The Tatar cavalry had been completely defeated, but unlike the panicked fleeing of the remnants of the horses on the north bank, the Tatar soldiers and horses on the south bank were able to maintain their basic formation, which would make Yang Yiqing and his 7,000 Ningxia border army seem powerless in pursuit.

I want to swallow the enemy in one bite, but my strength is insufficient.

Yang Yiqing's goal is also very clear, and his orders to Guo Jun, Gao Pi and others also reveal this utilitarian color: "No matter what, the Tatars can't be allowed to find another opportunity to cross the river!" ”

His proposition is also more in line with the current strength of the people and the expectations of the generals under his command.

Originally, Yang Yiqing was almost unable to control his soldiers and horses, after this battle, the guns and shells of his men and horses have basically been exhausted, if he continues to fight with the Tatars, he can only be almost hand-to-hand combat, and I am afraid that the battle damage ratio is good to one.

The soldiers have already obtained military merits, and they don't want to fight, no matter how tired they are, they can't fight.

As long as the Tatars did not cross the river to loot the land, people, livestock, and goods around Ningxia Zhongtunwei, it was enough for the soldiers to fight the current situation, and their strength was limited, and they could only accept it when they saw it.

By this time, Yang Yiqing still did not understand why the Tatars had withdrawn.

When the soldiers and horses were advancing to the riverbank, Zhang Yu was still guessing there: "Could it be that Ningxia Wei has reinforcements coming?" Or is it a detour behind enemy lines? ”

Yang Yiqing didn't want to answer this question.

Yang Yiqing was puzzled, but he still led people to the riverbank, and when he saw the situation on the other side of the river, the battle situation suddenly became clear.

"My lord, I learned from the Tatar captives that it was Cui Juma who led the troops to the other side, and it seemed that there were only a thousand people, so he blocked the Tatars from crossing the river and ordered them to retreat to the south bank in a hurry.

Gao Pi said this with some reverence.

In the army, a person with strength will be respected by others.

In the previous battle, the most respected person was Yang Yiqing, the governor of Ningxia.

But from this moment on, this person seems to have changed, he should become Cui Yuan, who made this kid prove his power with two deadly battles?

Zhang Yu said: "It's a brave general, but it's not a deterrent with firearms?" If we hadn't pinned down most of the Tartars' troops on the south bank, what would he have done on the other side of the river? Yang Junmen said yes? ”

Yang Yiqing still looked at the other side, shook his head and said: "If you can win the battle, after winning, you are not in a hurry to grab the credit, but lead the troops to pursue and prevent the Tatars from crossing the river." Cui Juma is deeply respected by His Majesty, it seems that Baoguo Gong has no knowledge of people, if Baoguo Gong can listen to this person's advice, it will not be ......"

Halfway through the sentence, I didn't continue.

It seems that Yang Yiqing has understood that this battle of Hetao, which was initiated by Daming, is basically coming to an end.

If Zhu Hui still had the opportunity to "redeem his merits" before, after this moment, Zhu Hui has been nailed to the pillar of shame.

Zhang Yu smiled: "Isn't Bao Guogong here yet?" Maybe he's already waiting to be intercepted? ”

Yang Yiqing still didn't answer this question.

With his understanding of Zhu Hui, Zhu Hui never chose to take the initiative to fight the Tatars head-on, and now even if Zhu Hui attacks with all his might, there will no longer be a chance, and the Tatars will pay attention to the movements of Zhu Hui's troops, and will not give the Ming army any chance to obtain results from them.

Yang Yiqing said to Gao Pi: "Pass the order, only chase and not fight, don't take the initiative to engage the Tatars, you don't have to go all out to block when you reach the pass, and then send a group of people to the other side to assist Cui Yuan in blocking the Tatars on the north bank." ”

Zhang Yu was surprised: "Is it to steal merit in the past?" If not, it is tantamount to giving credit to Cui Yuma. ”

What he didn't understand was that Yang Yiqing, you actually took the initiative to send people to Cui Yuan?

Yang Yiqing said: "The Yellow River bends to the north, all the way across the river loop, the Tatars always have to cross the river, the terrain on this loess is complicated, we must guard against the Tatars crossing the river within the pass, this is not the time to worry about military merits, to put the battle first." ”

Zhang Yan said: "Yang Junmen is really ...... Selfless. ”

said that he was still a little angry, but he would not fight with Yang Yiqing, at this time Zhang Yi knew very well that Yang Yiqing was a great hero like Cui Yuan, and he would definitely be rewarded afterwards, and it would be no good to do it against Yang Yiqing now.

……

……

The Tatars went downstream along the Yellow River, and they had to go out of the pass before they could cross the Yellow River.

Zhu Hui's headquarters was now nearly 200 miles away from the banks of the Yellow River, and in terms of the speed of his troops, it was completely too late to intercept the Tatars before they left the pass.

The battle situation on the bank of the Yellow River reached Zhu Hui's ears three hours later, and at this time, it was close to sunset, and Zhu Hui was not in a hurry to prepare for the army to be stationed, and he learned the news that Cui Yuan and Yang Yiqing's coalition army was "breaking Diyi" on the bank of the Yellow River.

"What?"

Zhu Hui picked up a stick holder on the table and slammed it to the ground.

"Grandpa, you are angry." The servant next to him hurriedly persuaded.

Zhu Hui said angrily: "Is this crazy? It's actually surnamed Cui? What can he do? Is Li Yan crazy? Give the soldiers and horses to the surname Cui? Do you believe that Ben Shuai will punish them for disobeying orders? How many heads do they have enough to chop off? ”

The people around him didn't say a word.

Now the big problem on their heads is not at all what Cui Yuan and Li Ju can help them solve, and the biggest problem now is that the war has advanced to the present, as the most elite army of the Ming Dynasty, they have the most cavalry in the border town of the Ming Dynasty, as well as the most firearms, shells, guns, etc., but now, they can only fight with the Tatar stragglers.

On the contrary, the Ningxia defenders who they couldn't look down on before, as well as the two pioneers sent out, have become very popular.

"Marshal, isn't Cui Kuoma also sent out by you, wheel credit, this is your share, it is your foresight." Someone is patting on the back.

"Hmm."

Although Zhu Hui nodded in agreement, he knew very well that it was useless to just compliment his subordinates.

It depends on how the imperial court decides.

If the emperor said that you were afraid of war and missed the fight, then he did not run.

"Stand down!" Zhu Hui said, "Wait, don't rest tonight, go northeast and pursue the Tatars!" At this time, they all stared! ”

The generals under his command are all thinking, why did they go earlier? It is said that it is not too late to make amends, but you are too late to make amends, right?

Hundreds of miles, how can we chase?

……

……

After the generals retired, Zhu Hui left behind his cronies and ministers who had a good relationship with him, and planned to discuss how to deal with this incident.

Zhu Hui's current cronies, Liu Jing, Marquis of Anyuan, who is in charge of the 3,000 battalions in Beijing, approached the past and said, "For the sake of today's plan, we still have to hurry up and have a good relationship with Cai Guogong." ”

Liu Jing was not on Zhu Hui's side, he was one of the other four people sent out, and later after joining forces with Zhu Hui, he was afraid of fighting and did not dare to rush forward, and now Liu Jing is equivalent to Zhu Hui is a grasshopper on a rope.

Zhu Hui nodded and said: "Yes, yes, Zhang Zhou is a clear-eyed person, he should know the scheduling of this commander in this battle, and he himself likes to dispatch behind his back." Cui Yuan was sent out by the marshal. ”

When he thought that Zhang Zhou might help him back, Zhu Hui felt confident.

A civilian guest on the side asked, "Cai Guogong will help us at this time?" ”

"How not?" Zhu Hui said, "Ben Shuai is a member of the Listening Office, he has been on duty, and he has discussed the military situation with him, and his status is not below him." Although in the Yanwu Hall, Ben Shuai is only teaching, but he is also the chief teacher, can he not give me this face? ”

When he said this, Zhu Hui suddenly felt a little empty again.

Liu Jing couldn't help reminding: "Baoguo Gong, you usually have too little contact with Cai Guogong, especially not like some people...... Give him often ...... Give a gift or something. I heard that others wanted to slap him, but the wine and wealth were all given away, and even the grandson of the British public family worshipped him as a husband. ”

This is reminding Zhu Hui, are you not counting in your heart?

When you were in the capital, although your relationship with Zhang Zhou was not bad, it was not much better?

It's just an exchange of etiquette, why would people help you?

After being reminded, Zhu Hui hurriedly called his servant over and said: "Hurry up and bring my message back to Beijing, select the girl who has not left the cabinet in my Zhu family, and send it to Cai Guogong to the house, just say that it is for the maid." ”

"Sir? This...... This ...... "the people of the Baoguo Mansion are also confused."

We're not going to lose face so much, are we? It's all the princes of the country, why do we have to keep our voices down like this? My own lady is a girl for others?

Zhu Hui said: "I haven't seen it, haven't I heard that Wang Weining does this?" His granddaughters have all been married, and it is still a marriage given by His Majesty! This kind of thing is to hurry up and not late! ”

These words are simply reminding the group of people around him who have a good relationship with him that if they want to maintain their current position in the army, they must give gifts as soon as possible, and there may be no such shop in this village after that.

Liu Jingdao: "If you are willing to send it now, people may not be willing to accept it." Or do you want to ...... There is something new that can be accepted by him...... It is said that His Majesty is also interested in purging us old guys from the Governor's Mansion this time, and if the relationship between priority and priority is not clarified, I am afraid that it will be useless to send anything. ”

In the past few years, Liu Jing has been running up and down for the sake of reinstatement, and it can be regarded as mastering the doorway.

Gifts?

If the gift worked, it would not be so much that my Liu family would almost go bankrupt, and it would not be until I was too old to walk that I took back the lost title, which was still given by the Son of Heaven in the face of the Empress Dowager.

You Zhu Hui used to accept gifts from others, and you were the kind who didn't do anything, why do you think that if your gift is given, people will do things for you?

Or is it at such a sensitive time?

"And what do you say?" Zhu Hui was also annoyed, "Lao Liu, you were the one who said that you wanted to have a good relationship with Zhang Bingkuan, and now you are the one who told me that it is useless to give gifts, where do you want to do it?" ”

Liu Jing looked around at the people around him, looking very embarrassed, meaning that some words were not easy to say.

Zhu Hui said: "Speak directly! ”

Liu Jing sighed: "To put it bluntly, the matter in front of us is simple and simple, complicated but also complicated, it all depends on Your Majesty's mood, and it is not good...... The crime of dereliction of duty is light, for the sake of today's plan, in addition to the good news in the morning, to stabilize the tone first, that is, to let Cai Guogong know, in the future, we will take him as the leader. Under this premise, gift-giving is useful......"

Zhu Hui said coldly: "How to make him believe?" ”

Liu Jingdao: "I don't know, I really don't know, if I said it earlier, it would be useful, and now I will say it after the eyebrows are burned, I'm afraid that if he doesn't believe it, he will fall into the well." Even if he doesn't fall into the trap and gets close to him, he will do so, depending on how many people in the DPRK and China are willing to speak for us. ”

Zhu Hui seemed to have mastered the trick.

"That's good, Ben Shuai is going around in the Jingshi, you all put your hearts back in your stomach, Cui Yuan is my person, he is willing to listen to whatever I say, this time he gets the credit, it is equivalent to us getting the credit! Arrive at the pass within two days, and be sure to catch up with the Tartars! They haven't been sleeping for days, and they don't believe that we can't catch up with them? Can't beat them? ”

……

……

Zhu Hui's troops began to march rapidly, this time to rush through the starry night, but the Tatars would not wait in place after all.

Under the circumstance that Yang Yiqing had no intention of launching the next blocking battle, there was not much time left for Zhu Hui.

At this time, in the capital, the focus of the imperial court was no longer in Ningxia, it seems that after the Tatars experienced the defeat in the two battles of Huamachi and Shigou City, no one would think that the Tatars would do anything, and they all thought that the Tatars would withdraw their troops directly, and few people could see the Tatars' further intentions.

The focus of the court's attention has become the imminent purge of officials in the northwest, which seems to be the emperor using Zhang Zhou's hand to attack the northwest, and the emperor wants to personally control the military power in the northwest.

That night, Zhang Zhou received a guest in the theater, who was now Wang Chun, Marquis of Weining.

The emperor is very optimistic about Wang Chun, even if Wang Chun has never actually led troops, and can be said to have done nothing in the Governor's Mansion, and he does not even have the authority to lead the military affairs of the Beijing camp or the northwest, just an empty Marquis of Weining, but this does not affect Zhu Youzhi to regard Wang Chun as Zhang Zhou's descendant, and is ready to entrust him with important tasks.

"Mr. Zhang, I don't have much insight into the affairs of governing the army, and I am afraid that I can't teach others the methods of marching and governing the army in the Yanwutang, but I don't know how to serve the imperial court?"

Wang Chun briefly entered the Yanwu Hall, but he went as a student, and he also went to the school competition, but Wang Chun's performance was not good.

Mainly because when Wang Chun was in his prime, Wang Yue was idle at home because of his crime, Wang Chun had less opportunity to train with his father on the battlefield, and after Wang Yue's rise, it was just a flash in the pan, and he just got the title, and he passed away in the New Year, and he did not pave the way for Wang Chun to enter politics.

Now it is equivalent to saying that Wang Chun can only rely on Zhang Zhou in the court.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Your Majesty's meaning is to prepare you to take the authority of the general army of a place and assist in the management of the army and other things." ”

Wang Chun looked embarrassed: "I'm just afraid of betraying Your Majesty's trust." ”

Wang Chun wanted to get a chance to perform, but naturally he was afraid that because of his bad performance, the title in the hands of the Wang family would fly from his hands.

After all, we all know that it is impossible to reproduce the second Wang Weining, Wang Yue is such a hero, the strength of his life, and with the help of a "nobleman" like Zhang Zhou, he has obtained today's title, and Wang Chun feels that he does not even have the ability of his father, if he goes to the battlefield, he will lose the Wang family, and he will lose what his father has worked hard all his life to be called sad.

Zhang Zhou said: "At present, I am preparing to let you go to Datong Town." ”

"Datong?"

When Wang Chun heard this, he was still a little excited.

The position of Datong General Soldier is coveted by everyone, and the previous candidate for Datong General Soldier also mentioned him Wang Chun, Wang Chun even has experience in the army, but he has not made any military achievements, but if he follows Wang Shouren...... It's arguably the easiest job.

Zhang Zhou nodded and said: "Xinjian Bo is in Datong, he is the governor of Datong and concurrently serves as the general system of Xuanda, and the matter of the promotion of soldiers and horses obviously cannot be grasped by him." As a general under him, there are both opportunities and pressures, although he is young, he has a very personality in governing the army, and he has a dictatorial side, and ordinary lords may not be able to accept his set. ”

The implication is that this is not necessarily an opportunity for nothing.

Actually, it's more of a challenge for you.

After Wang Chun thought about it, he didn't answer.

The news that Zhang Zhou brought to him still made him difficult to digest for a while.

Zhang Zhou continued: "In the land of Xuanda, before and after the year, there will definitely be wars involving the march into the grassland, and there are relatively many opportunities to perform, and with Ling Zun's prestige in the army, the soldiers on the front line of Xuanda admire him as a person, and Ling Zun's old department also has many old departments, so let you go over, but also to win people's hearts." ”

"I see."

Wang Chun somewhat knew the emperor's intention for such a decision.

Since it is to rectify the military and political affairs in the northwest, the old Xun faction or some old and experienced generals cannot be beaten to death with a stick, and if Zhang Zhou directly sends some new talents to the past, it will inevitably cause a backlash from local military circles.

To put it bluntly, if you want to send someone to rectify the place, they will set a threshold for you to make trouble.

However, sending a person like Wang Chun, who does not have much qualifications himself, but also has the background of Wang Yue's son, will make the generals and officials of the Northwest Army relax their vigilance, and at the same time, it will also facilitate Zhang Zhou to implement some "grace and power" means.

Zhang Zhoudao: "If you have no opinion, then I will mention it to Your Majesty, and it is estimated that your appointment will be announced in the court in the next few days, and it may be hard for you." ”

Wang Chun stood up and said very respectfully: "If you can serve the imperial court, you should be loyal and righteous, and you dare not forget your roots." ”

"Okay." Zhang Zhou saw that the time was about the same, got up and said, "Don't bother, if you want to watch the play, stay or send someone to send you back, and prepare early." ”

"Don't bother Cai Guogong." Wang Chun can be said to be respectful to Zhang Zhou.

……

……

Zhang Zhou got up to see Wang Chun leave, and the Wang family also had servants to greet him, and as Wang Chun left in the carriage, Wang Mingshan also came out from the side.

"Your uncle, you want to be a general soldier, your father doesn't know if he has any intention of joining the army?"

Zhang Zhou stood in the night, looking at Wang Mingshan with a smile.

Wang Mingshan thought about it and shook her head, as if the family's affairs had nothing to do with her.

She usually only cares about how to be a guard for Zhang Zhou, and then saves some clothes, jewelry, etc., she doesn't know why she is interested in those, usually taking care of her son will be responsible for the nurse, and she will follow up with Zhang Zhou, she seems to have forgotten why she entered Zhang's house in the first place.

"Forget it."

Zhang Zhou knew that Wang Mingshan's head was not so complicated, so he didn't tease her.

Before he turned around and entered the theater, Guo Ang, the envoy of Jinyi Weibei Town, brought someone over and stood in front of Zhang Zhou to give him a salute.

"Grandpa, there is a note from the northwest, sent out from the palace, let you read it first."

Guo Ang came to deliver a report on the Northwest War to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou introduced Guo Ang into the theater, and he only entered the first floor of the theater, and then Zhang Zhou waved his hand, and the play on the stage was immediately stopped, and soon there were only a few people left on the first floor.

Zhang Zhou took the song and read the above content, it was Yang Yiqing who reported on the situation of pursuing the Tatars, and there was still a day's journey from the Yellow River, Yang Yiqing directly analyzed that the Tatars were preparing to cross the river to continue to plunder people and animals in the northern region of Ningxia, so they wanted to desperately prevent the Tatars from crossing the river and going north.

"Gonggong Li was unable to come in person because of something, but I want the humble official to go back after learning your opinion, and he should report it to His Majesty."

Guo Ang said what he meant.

In fact, Li Rong was ordered to ask Zhang Zhou's opinion, but he couldn't go in person, so Guo Ang ran errands.

Zhang Zhou said: "That's fine, I don't have to go to the palace tomorrow in person." ”

Guo Ang was also quite embarrassed when he heard it.

Others are proud to be able to enter the court to participate in the court meeting, but Zhang Zhou regards this as a great burden, and strives for all kinds of evasions not to participate in the court meeting, and the emperor actually connives, giving people a feeling that the court can't do without Zhang Zhou, and he has to let him be an official.

"It seems to me that the opinion of the governor of Ningxia is very much in line with my expectations, and the main point of this battle is to prevent the Tatars from crossing the river north. But the key to the war was whether the Tatar ambitions could be stifled. ”

Zhang Zhou expressed his opinion.

Guo Ang was confused.

"Grandpa, I don't understand very well the humble position, stifling Di Yi's ambition, do you mean...... "If ordinary people fool Guo Ang like this, Guo Ang will definitely be annoyed."

It is so unrealistic to mention only a general concept without mentioning a specific strategy...... What about you playing with me?

Zhang Zhou said: "It's difficult to change me, who made Baoguo Gong fail to arrive in time?" I didn't expect that to be the case. ”

Knowing that Yang Yiqing wants to cut off the Tatars' way to the north, it is a bit difficult, and the risk is still a bit high, if it really doesn't work out, there must always be someone who carries the black cauldron, this person is naturally Zhu Hui, and he can't let me Zhang carry the black cauldron, right?

The two battles of Huamachi and Shigou City were planned by me, and you said that I didn't plan carefully, and I didn't expect the Tatars to cross the river north?

Who would have thought that Zhu Hui would pull his hips so much on the battlefield?

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "The Tatars have experienced defeat in two wars, and their morale has dropped greatly, and I have sent people to inform Ningxia earlier, and let them prepare early, as long as the boats along the river are burned in time, the conditions for the Tatars to cross the river will not be achieved, even if they forcibly cross the river, as long as the local soldiers and horses in Ningxia are in pursuit, the Tatars will not be able to cross the river smoothly." ”

"So let Your Majesty and Gonggong Li rest assured that there will be no big mistakes in this battle." (End of chapter)