The ninth day of February.

The second largest city of the Haixi Jurchen Hui Development Department, a multi-walled city built on a mountain, Tang Yin routinely visited the city to inspect it.

Within reach of the telescope, you can see camps everywhere, and a large number of soldiers are setting up tripwires and other objects at the bottom of the mountain, and even the other side is using soil methods to build some bunkers...... Obviously, the Jurchens also appreciated the power of the Ming artillery, and began to find some relatively stable ways to face the Ming Dynasty's flowering cannon.

"Bohu, is there any news?"

Xu Jing ran up to the city.

He first looked at the blank North Korean soldiers around him, and then looked at Tang Yin with a sad expression.

Tang Yin shook his head: "No, the people sent out, whether it was our people or the North Korean people, were hindered from going out." Two North Korean heralds were also captured by the other side, and their bodies were sent to the outside of the city early this morning for public display. ”

"Damn your heart!" Xu Jing cried with a sad face.

Tang Yin said with a helpless expression: "Don't let you come, it's difficult for you to leave now, alas, there are less than three days of food left in the city, and then you may have to kill horses, eat tree bark, grass roots, and ......."

Xu Jing said: "It's not so miserable, right? ”

"It's already good before it reaches the point of cannibalism, the drought in North Korea is serious, why do you come to Duobi City with red eyes, not for stuttering? Now that I have not fulfilled what I said about having enough to eat, I don't know if they will mutini in times of crisis. ”

Tang Yin's face was pale and bloodless, giving people the feeling that he had lived enough.

Xu Jing said: "But the Jurchen Tartars have never attacked the city, is this trying to trap us?" ”

Tang Yin nodded and said: "After several sieges before, they found that the terrain was not favorable to them, and we still have artillery, and there has been no movement in the last four or five days. Maybe they're waiting for reinforcements. ”

"Then why don't we break through?" Xu Jing was very anxious, "Our people, when they go out, they all have horses, and they run fast, right?" It doesn't matter if they don't die. ”

Tang Yin hurriedly looked around and reprimanded in a low voice: "Let people hear this, do you want to cause a mutiny in the army?" ”

Xu Jing lowered his head, as if admitting his mistake.

But then Tang Yin's tone softened and said: "It's not that I haven't thought about breaking through, but it seems that we don't have any way back to Daming, it seems that there are only some opportunities for the way we came...... But the cavalry of the Jurchens were not vegetarians, and if they wanted to escape, they were afraid that they would not be able to leave alone. ”

"That'...... Is that just waiting for death? ”

Xu Jing looked sad, sitting on the brick beside him, not like a scholar at all, but like a poor beggar, the clothes on his body looked very dirty after crawling along the way, and there were some holes, at this time he didn't seem to care about personal hygiene.

Just when the two were relatively speechless.

Park Yuanzong took a few people to the city, and said eagerly: "Tang Shangcha, I found it...... Jiannu had the weakest defenses to the east. ”

Tang Yin said: "I'm not asking you to check which side is the weakest, but which side has the most food." ”

"We ......"

Xu Jing also stood up.

Tang Yin's eyes were firm and said: "I can't get out of the city, I can only stick to it and wait for help, it's not a way to drag it out like this, I have to kill it, as long as I can repel one or two enemy bands and grab their food in." ”

"That'...... That's good. Xu Jing swallowed and salivaed.

Tang Yin said: "This trick will only work once, when they find out our intentions, they will hide the grain far away in the rear, and will not give us a chance, so we will get it with one blow." ”

"Good!"

Even Park Wonjong and the people he brought seemed to be excited.

……

……

When Wang Shouren arrived in Shenyang non-stop, it was already February 13.

When he arrived in Shenyang, Lin Ting, who had set off a few days earlier than him, was still halfway there...... It is also related to the fact that Wang Shouren and his entourage traveled lightly.

The first thing he did when he entered the city was to hurry to visit Lu Wan and discuss the dispatch of troops.

Lu Wan said unhurriedly: "Xinjian Bo has worked hard all the way, and after resting first, he will talk about sending troops." ”

Wang Shouren said: "Your Majesty let me come to Liaodong to lead the troops to fight, and now the Ming envoys, as well as the North Korean escort back to the DPRK, have been trapped in the multi-walled city for many days, how can they not help?" ”

"Alas!"

Lu Wan sighed heavily and said, "It's not that I don't want to help, it's that Your Majesty and Lai Guogong have no further instructions." Besides, isn't the cannon you brought still on the way? ”

Wang Shouren disagreed: "What Lin Lizhan brought was heavy artillery, which was used to destroy the city and uproot the village, and I can use some light artillery here." Please bring the cavalry over, I want to lead the army tonight. ”

"In such a hurry?"

Lu Wan didn't expect that Wang Shouren would be so earnest.

He was thinking about it too.

Your newborn calf, even if you fought so hard before Weininghai, now you are already a new uncle, and you are still so sharp? No matter how awesome you are, can you still be a new marquis?

"After that, I asked Zhang Yong, the lieutenant of the town guard, to tell you that the army will not be sent until the morning after tomorrow, and Xinjian Bo should rest first. On my side, I also have to send someone to spy on the military situation...... Speaking of which, the official is also very worried about the situation in Duobi City. ”

Lu Wan was expressing concern, but on the other hand, he asked Wang Shouren to "calm down".

Wang Shouren asked, "What is the situation in Duobi City?" ”

"I don't know." Lu Wan replied very simply, "There has been no news for more than ten days, but I didn't receive a report at night, saying that the Tartars were all going east, and all the ministries had sent people." ”

"yes, yes......"

As he spoke, Zhang Yong trotted all the way into the conference hall.

He was still panting as he spoke: "Uncle Xin, meet again." ”

Wang Shouren looked at Zhang Yong, he hated eunuchs in his bones, but he knew that eunuchs were too deeply bound to the Ming ruling group, and they were a group that had to be contacted.

But because Cao Shun left a very bad impression on him before, he was only perfunctory in terms of etiquette to Zhang Yong.

“…… It's time to use troops, our family thinks so too, Xinjian Bo is finally here, there is His Majesty's imperial decree, and the transfer of troops is a matter of one sentence, and I will transfer men and horses to you early tomorrow morning, which is the artillery side......"

Zhang Yong was talking on the side, but Lu Wan on the side was giving him a look.

Lu Wan is also reminding Zhang Yong, should we discuss the tone before we speak?

I was just saying that it would take two more days, and you would just give him the men early tomorrow morning? This hasty dispatch of troops, something went wrong, he Wang Shouren died on the battlefield or patted his ass and left, is this responsibility not on our shoulders?

Wang Shouren arched his hand and said: "Thank you Gonggong Zhang and Lu Zhongcheng for their help, then I will go back and wait first, and lead the troops out of the city early tomorrow morning." ”

……

……

Wang Shouren went back to rest.

He was really tired.

This Lu Wan sent people out of the door, and when he came back, he saw Zhang Yong walking there and smirking.

"Gonggong Zhang, in a hurry to transfer soldiers and horses to this person, it is not a good thing, it is said that he is a self-contained way, and he doesn't even have a prison army, no matter how he tosses, such a soldier...... It's easy to get surprised. "As a civilian official, Lu Wan also wants to control the military power alone, but he feels that one person is in control of everything, and it is easy to get out of the way.

In a young and energetic upstart, this worry is even greater.

Zhang Yong smiled: "That's because you don't know the character of their father and son...... Our family knows that it is his father who is the champion, don't look at the nest in the Hanlin Courtyard now, but in fact, his heart is higher than the sky. That Mr. Zhang's vision is very good, and Wang Boan is a talent that can be created. ”

Lu Wan was very wrong when he heard it.

Meaning, he's awesome, I can't?

In terms of merit and background, it seems that I, Lu, am really inferior to that kid...... He was even the governor before me.

But I don't want him to lead troops to the battle, is it because I'm jealous of him?

Zhang Yong also seemed to feel that his words were hurtful, and said with a smile: "This battle should also be fought quickly, you can't let Tang Bohu sing alone in Duobi City, right?" Shouting to fight Jianzhou, this has been shouting for two months, the army has not moved at all, and Tang Bohu has already gone back and forth to North Korea! ”

Lu Wan sighed: "Wang Bo'an wants to lead his troops deep into the hinterland of Jianzhou, and what he does is no different from that Tang Yin. I'm afraid that the soldiers will not give their lives. ”

"Alas!" Zhang Yong sighed, "Let's see how to adjust it!" It is good to satisfy His Majesty and Lai Guogong. ”

……

……

What Lu Wan was worried about did not happen.

In the afternoon of the same day, Lu Wan was transferred to Shenyang from all over the country to follow Wang Shouren on the matter of sending troops to follow Wang Shouren, and the 37,000 soldiers and horses who had been stationed in Shenyang and the 20,000 or so local garrisons in Shenyang were already in contention.

"It's a fight......"

After Zhang Yong went to coordinate, he came back and complained to Lu Wan, "Lu Zhongcheng doesn't know that in order to be able to go out with Xinjian Bo, the generals of each battalion, not to mention what kind of generals and guerrillas, are also fighting. ”

Lu Wan said: "Just because it's Jianzhou?" ”

Zhang Yong shook his head: "It's not necessarily, maybe they all think that Xinjian Bo is Mr. Zhang's descendant, and he has a future with Xinjian Bo." ”

Lu Wan was very annoyed when he heard this.

Wang Bo'an, as the coach of the airborne people, is so popular, saying that it is because he is a descendant of Zhang Zhou...... In other words, I'm not?

Or do you think I have no ability, I took you on a trip to Huangshui, and the credit was basically snatched away by the people in Jizhou?

"Also, we heard from Uncle Xinjian that Mr. Zhang and An Bianhou should come to Shenyang City in person after a while, and then they may lead a Chinese army...... Lu Zhongcheng, let's hurry up. Zhang Yong looked very excited.

There is probably a feeling that Shenyang wants to gather heroes.

Lu Wan said: "This time there is nothing to do with the people of Jizhou. ”

Zhang Yong shook his head and said, "Who knows? Mr. Zhang went north, perhaps transferring a group of people from Jizhou to cooperate...... Lu Zhongcheng didn't say that it was our family, and our family only heard some gossip. ”

"Where's the gossip?" Lu Wan frowned.

Zhang Yongdao: "Naturally, it came from the DPRK. ”

Lu Wan took a cool breath.

He suddenly realized that he was the one who had no foundation in the court, and everything depended on Zhang Zhou's appreciation and support.

Zhang Yong not only has military merits, but also has the endorsement and support of the bigwigs in the court, even if Zhang Yong returns to Beijing, it is estimated that he is also the eunuch of the imperial horse eunuch...... Lu Wan suddenly realized how important military merit was to him.

……

……

Early in the morning of 14 February, Wang Shouren took the men and horses he brought with him to the Beijing camp, together with more than 2,000 elite horsemen selected from Shenyang in eastern Liaodong, one man and two horses, plus 200 light cannons and 18 improved sub-mother cannons, and embarked on the journey.

His goal is clear.

Directly from the Yahu Pass, from the south road directly to the nest of the guards of Jianzhou, Hetuara City.

When Wang Shouren set out on the expedition, he didn't make his purpose clear to Lu Wan and Zhang Yong, and what he pursued was a surprise victory.

After Lu Wan and Zhang Yong personally participated in Wang Shouren's oath of the expedition, when they came back, Zhang Yong was still muttering there: "He said that he was going to leave the Yahu Pass, he wouldn't want to go directly to the main city of the Jurchens, right?" ”

Lu Wan said: "After the capture, there will be nothing for us." ”

"Huh." Zhang Yong didn't seem very worried, "The Jurchens have at least six or seven thousand regular soldiers and horses around the main city, and if you add those people who have been temporarily recruited and those who can hold weapons, it will not be a problem to get together twenty or thirty thousand people." If you want to use 4,000 people to directly capture one city after another, it is still a little difficult. ”

Lu Wan sighed and said, "But until now, Your Majesty has not let us send troops......

Zhang Yongdao: "It's quite anxious to say. Or...... Let's find a way to urge? ”

"Who?" Lu Wan frowned.

"Of course you can't urge Your Majesty, or urge that Mr. Zhang, hasn't he been out of Shanhaiguan yet? Or does he not want to go to the front at all, deliberately waiting for us to solve the problem? ”

Although Zhang Yong admires Zhang Zhou very much.

But with his thoughts, he felt that Zhang Zhou was already the Duke of Lai Guogong and the number one capable person around the emperor, so why did he have to go into battle in person?

Besides, there are so many awesome people in Liaodong, and it is not Dayan Khan, who has more than 100,000 elites, but the Jianzhou Jurchens, which is simply not worth the current risk.

The best thing is that the people below finish the battle, and Zhang Zhou himself can lead the military exploits planned in the rear.

……

……

Two days later, Wang Shouren led his troops out of the Yahu Pass.

It was on the day he left the Raven Falcon Pass that he received a message from Duobi City...... Tang Yin is still alive, and the city has not been captured, but the situation is also very bad.

The general of the defenders of the Yahu Pass, Qianhu An Runing, said: "The merchants who came from Dong Ebu said that a few days ago, they also saw a Jurchen army gathering in the direction of Duobi City, and also said that the city had been guarded for almost a month, and if it hadn't been raided by the defenders in the city and robbed of food once, it is estimated that the food would have been exhausted long ago. ”

"And now?" Wang Shouren frowned.

An Runing shook his head: "I don't know now, after North Korea sent troops, all the Jurchen tribes, especially those with cottages, have stepped up their defenses. In the winter, there was no food to be produced, and even hunting stopped. It seems that they are all waiting for the outcome of this battle. ”

Wang Shouren said coldly: "The result of this battle is to wipe them all out, and Jianzhou will no longer set up a guard from now on, and from now on, the north of Liaodong will also be my territory directly under the Ming Dynasty." Change the local official into a rogue official. ”

"This ......"

An Runing was obviously not qualified to ask about such a major military matter, so he just received Wang Shouren a little and sent Wang Shouren off by the way.

"The Crow Pass will send troops together tomorrow, go east, and stop after one or two stockades." Wang Shouren laid out tactics.

An Runing hurriedly said: "Forgive me, Uncle Xinjian does not have the authority to transfer troops. ”

Wang Shouren said: "Just listen to me." Even if there is any accident in this battle, if you withdraw to the Raven Pass, the Jurchens will not dare to commit it...... Even if you really come to commit it, it is definitely not your fault that the Raven Falcon Pass is breached. ”

"That'...... That lowly commanded. ”

An Runing did not know whether Wang Shouren was qualified to give such an order.

But the generals of Liaodong, especially these military households who are far away from the emperor of the mountain, have never had the opportunity to migrate south of Shanhaiguan in their lives, and now they finally meet a "Laiguo princess", and they all want to take the opportunity to tie up.

This is also why the soldiers of Liaodong are willing to follow Wang Shouren on the expedition.

It is the people who go to the higher places and the water flows to the lower places.

……

……

Wang Shouren thought that he could take the routine of dealing with the Weining Sea Fire Sieve Department and take Hetuala directly.

But he made a mistake.

Wang Shouren also made mistakes.

It's not that his tactics are not good...... It's that the environment in which he lives does not allow it.

When he led his troops out of the Yahu Pass, he found that the terrain of Jianzhou was far more complicated than he had imagined.

It is also because the Liaohe Plain area is occupied by the Ming Dynasty, Jianzhouwei is only in the mountains and valleys next to the plain, there are many rivers here, and the river is turbulent, obviously it is still cold and frozen, but the ice is very thin, and the horses cannot carry the artillery through it at all.

Then there is that the road is too difficult to walk.

There are many mountains, and the height is undulating, and even if there are horses, the speed of the team after crossing the Raven Pass is not even as fast as the infantry.

Originally, he had carefully prepared for a surprise attack, thinking that he would be able to kill Hetuara in two days at most, but it snowed again the next day, and the road was even more difficult.

And their whereabouts have also been discovered by sentry posts hiding everywhere...... The plan for the surprise attack was tantamount to a failure.

When General Li Ling marched that night, he went directly to Wang Shouren for instructions: "Major General, although Hetuara is less than thirty miles away, it will take another day to arrive. ”

Li Ling did not go to Weininghai with Wang Shouren.

But Li Ling is a member of the Datong faction, and he was transferred to Beijing to train artillery, but he is not a member of the Yanwutang, which is equivalent to a marginal person in the Yanwutang.

If he hadn't been transferred to Liaodong to go to the grassland with Lu Wan, he might have had the opportunity to enter the Yanwutang.

Li Ling also wanted to make meritorious contributions, but he appeared to be very wise, and he was not as impulsive and resolute as Wang Shouren in using soldiers.

Wang Shouren looked at the surrounding woods covered in silver and said, "There have been four or five cottages along the way, and none of them have been uprooted, do you want me to uproot those camps step by step?" If it goes on like this, I'm afraid that in just a month or two, I may not be able to rush to the help of Duobi City. ”

Li Ling followed the guide of Jianzhou Wei next to him, and he said: "The two military masters, it's not a small deliberate stumbling block, it's better for a small group of people to pass through the big army in this place." Especially the Jurchens, whose horses somehow had an easier time than others through the dense forest...... We have to be careful of being attacked. ”

Wang Shouren said: "The plan remains the same, stay tonight, go to the direction of the Jianzhou Acropolis early tomorrow morning, and attack the city before sunset!" ”

……

……

Ideals are always happy.

But the change came faster than Wang Shouren imagined.

Before Hetuala, more than 2,000 cavalry of the Jianzhou Guard had already come from Hetuala, as if they were about to set up a decisive battle with Wang Shouren.

Originally, even the Ming soldiers thought that the Jurchens were killing themselves.

However, when Wang Shouren personally explored the terrain in front of him, he found that the mountains were so undulating that even the artillery could not hit them, and the Jianzhou guards were scattered everywhere to ambush......

Wang Shouren began to understand that the Jianzhou Wei wanted to fight guerrilla warfare with him, so that even if he could reach Hetuara through the terrain in front, he would have to lose his troops, and there were not a few.

(End of chapter)