Prince Chongzhen

Chapter 506 Let Yarkand See It

After the Chuang army captured Ningxia and Shaanxi, the Ming Dynasty's forces in the northwest were reduced to the two states of Gansu and Xining Guard.

Seeing that there were no more troubles in the northwest, Li Zicheng recalled Liu Zongmin and only left General He Jin in charge of the Central Camp to complete the Western Expedition.

There was nothing wrong with this. After all, the Ming Dynasty's regime in the northwest was on the verge of collapse at that time. Instead of letting Liu Zongmin's main force waste time here, it would be better to concentrate on the expedition to the east.

But the development of military situation eventually changed.

While the Chuang army successfully captured Gan and Su prefectures, the troops sent to attack Xining Guard were defeated by the chieftains of Qi and Lu who were loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing the news, He Jin personally led a large army from Ganzhou to Xining. However, whether because he was eager for revenge or because he underestimated the enemy, his army was ambushed when it was about to reach the border between the two sides, resulting in his defeat and death. The Chuang army had to regroup and capture Xining.

Things started to change very subtly here.

In the original history, the Shaanxi-Gansu Chuang army retreated on a large scale after Li Zicheng's defeat, leaving only a small group of troops to maintain garrisons in various states in Gansu.

Later, the Qing army arrived. This small number of troops could not cause much trouble, but the Qing army was unable to take care of Gansu due to several consecutive defeats, so this place was still occupied by the remnants of the rebel army.

With this foundation, He Zhen's role will begin to show.

He and He Zhen have some relationship, and they are both subordinates of Liu Zongmin. His influence on these scattered troops is far beyond that of Li Chengdong and others.

There is no need to go into details about what happened next.

After the four generals Da, Li, Sun and He met in Jincheng, this army of 50,000 soldiers went straight into the Hexi Corridor.

This team with complex origins was insignificant on the battlefield in the Central Plains, but they firmly held the advantage in numbers, and He Zhen easily convinced the cities along the way with just a few words.

In the end, the two teams separated in Ganzhou. Sun Shoufa and He Zhen were busy restoring the Ming Dynasty's ruling structure over Gansu, while Dayan and Li Chengdong adjusted their direction and headed straight for Hami.

This Hami was originally the Hami Guard of the Ming Dynasty. Not only was its leader conferred the title of King Zhongshun, but there were also Ming Dynasty troops stationed in the area. However, in the late Ming Dynasty, the civil service group had already crushed the military merits, and these areas that seemed to have no economic value were gradually abandoned under the various operations of the civil service officials. When the Jiayuguan Pass was closed during the Jiajing period, not only was the Hami Guard occupied by the fragmented Yarkand, but even the Shazhou Guard was out of the control of the Ming Dynasty.

"Generals, there is a sandbar ahead. If there is nothing else, I will go back."

"Why are you in such a hurry? You are the guide of the army. How can you go back before reaching Hami?"

Listening to Li Chengdong's rather dissatisfied words, Li Gou Wa suddenly felt bitter in his mouth.

Although the Silk Road at this time was no longer as prosperous as it once was, the ethnic groups outside the Great Wall were in need of everything, and these military households who had grown up in Jiayuguan since childhood could still make a living by doing some business.

Among those who frequently went out of the country, Li Gou Wa was the most familiar with the road to Hami, but precisely because of this, he became a thorn in the eyes of some people, and this mission that could cost him his life fell on him.

Everyone in Guanli knew clearly that this army was coming to cause trouble for Yarkand. If it were another time, they would have been willing to let the imperial court deal with those fools, but this army consisted of only 5,000 Ming cavalrymen equipped with muskets and swords, and all of them were Mongols from Khoshut. Who could expect them to do anything earth-shattering?
After all, not only could the Khoshut not defeat Yarkand, but the Dzungar had also suffered two heavy losses at their hands. If he had not found an opportunity to escape earlier, he would probably have died at the hands of Yarkand.

As his thoughts turned, the bitterness in Li Gou Wa's mouth became more and more intense. But before he could think of a way to escape, a knight rode towards him on horseback in the distance.

"Reporting to the commander! We met a scout from the Junggar tribe. According to him, Batur Hun Taiji has led 40,000 Junggar cavalrymen to wait for us at the foot of Mazong Mountain. Babai, the governor of Hami in Yarkand, has led his troops to the old city of Handongwei."

After he finished speaking, Li Chengdong began to whisper with Dayan, but Li Gou Wa felt that there was no chance of escape this time, and he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

If you want to fight, then fight. Why are you sending such a small number of people?
Does the emperor in the south still think that the Ming Dynasty is the Celestial Empire and that all the barbarians will submit to him once the army arrives?
Times have changed a long time ago!
Li Gou Wa's thoughts turned over and over again, and he could not think of a way to escape except to curse in his heart.

At this point, a person as small as him did not have much room to struggle. After the two generals at the top had discussed the matter, the army marched towards the northwest in a mighty manner.

There was nothing much to say about what happened on the road. Li Gou Wa had no other thoughts except worrying about his own life. He did not pay much attention to the various military situations coming and going.

About three or four days later, the army marched openly to the vicinity of the old city of Handongwei, and the Dzungars who had been hiding far away also came over.

Li Gou Wa was not stupid. Although he no longer had the opportunity to get close to the general after setting up camp, seeing the Dzungar people entering and leaving the Ming army camp from time to time, he gradually came to his senses and his worries were reduced.

But then again, the Yarkand people were in their own territory after all, and the other two families had been defeated by them.

Under such circumstances, even if the emperor in the south sent 5,000 cavalry, they would probably not be able to stop the powerful Yarkand people. He never stopped looking for a way to escape.

Two more days passed in such torment. During this time, not only were there people coming and going in the three garrisons, but Li Chengdong and Dayan also went out several times.

Seeing this situation, Li Gou Wa was not happy that the war had not broken out. Instead, he vaguely sensed the weirdness of the situation.

The Yarkand people would often invade the border under the banner of sz, and would kill anyone who did not believe in XXX. However, this time the other side did not shout for war and killing as in the past, which really left Li Gouwa, who grew up on the border, completely confused.

Fortunately.
"Brother, can you please tell me if we are ready to set off?"

Early this morning, Li Gou Wa noticed something unusual in the camp, but he was just a guide and did not dare to ask too much. He waited until he found a soldier who was a little familiar with the situation and then began to test the situation.

But to his surprise, the soldier didn't seem to have any intention of hiding anything. Before he finished speaking, the other party started pouring out the beans.

"Haven't you heard? The Governor of Hami is very tough. Not only did he say that the Ming Dynasty was not worthy of being the ruler of Yarkand, he also threatened to destroy the Dzungars and Khoshuts. So the Marshal is going to let them see what a dragoon is."

Damn!
Finally they fought.

(End of this chapter)