In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 686 Marching Through Snow and Wind: The White Pine Troops Suffer a Major Defeat

The vast earth was covered in white snow.
The large caravan and its accompanying soldiers walked along the official road, which was hidden by wind and snow, like a tiny ink dot in the vast world.

Quanningwei is located in the northernmost part of Daning.

Let alone five years ago, even two years ago, that area was still within the sphere of influence of the Northern Yuan Royal Court.

The Ming army could only garrison there, but could not build a major military town.

Now, the Northern Yuan royal court has perished.

In the past two years, Quanningwei has newly built settlements and small towns.
Finally, the garrison was established last year, officially becoming part of the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Quanningwei is nearly 400 li away from Daning City.
Even on a sunny day, it would take nearly twenty days to travel, let alone now with wind and snow.

A month has passed since the team set off from Daning City.

By March, in the south, the clouds would have already parted and the sun would be shining, bringing with it mild and humid weather.

But in Mongolia and Daning, it is still a world of ice and snow.

Two thousand soldiers marched at the front of the column.

The warhorse struggled to move forward despite the wind and snow.

The soldiers were wrapped up tightly, with only their small eyes showing.

Even so, her eyelashes were already covered in frost, and she was frozen stiff.

"Sir, the snow is really heavy."

The two riders at the front, with Wu Fuliu shouting loudly beside them, tried to drown out the wind and snow with their voices.

Lu Yunyi nodded and responded in kind with a shout:
"It's very big, and it will be even bigger in the afternoon."

Tell the brothers to stay close; we're only five miles away. Be careful not to get separated.

"Yes, my lord!"

Wait for Wu Fuliu to deliver the order.
Lu Yunyi raised his head and looked at the vast expanse of white before him.
The fierce wind whipped up heavy snowflakes, which swirled and roamed wildly between heaven and earth.

When the snowflakes hit your skin, you can feel a slight touch and make a soft pattering sound.

Looking back, a long, black queue stretched out behind them, appearing and disappearing in the distance.
The carriages and horses were already trying their best to move forward.

Tiny figures tirelessly brushed the snow off the mules and horses.

They were still rubbing against the livestock vigorously.

This was done so that the mules and horses could feel the limited warmth they had, giving them the strength to continue walking.

In such a strong wind and heavy snow,
We can't stop. Once we stop, people will become complacent.
The snow will completely cover the roads, making it even more difficult to walk!
In the rear caravan, Mi Bin, as the manager, also took the lead.

He pulled hard on the reins, trying to get the donkey behind him moving.

But the ruts kept slipping, and the cart was piled high with goods.
Despite the donkey's best efforts to brace itself against the ground, the carriage could only move slightly.

He was breathing heavily, and he could hear his lungs trembling violently.

In this swirling snow,
Aside from being able to see people, all I can hear is my own voice.

For some reason, a sense of emptiness and bewilderment welled up in my heart.
He felt he could no longer adapt to life on the grasslands.

He preferred to stay in the city, living in a warm house with underfloor heating, and walking on the clean streets.

He leaned against the donkey, the two of them relying on each other, looking ahead at the vast expanse of white.

If it weren't for the snow, this place would be a vast, lush green grassland.
It is a remote place, and you can only vaguely see the mountains in the distance.

In the past, he loved such beautiful scenery the most, feeling it was a gift from heaven and earth.

But now he finds that he only appreciates the beauty of the grasslands when he lives in the city.

Even if he were to return to his old life, he wouldn't be able to do it.

"The people of the Central Plains are truly remarkable."

The wind howled and was extremely noisy, but Mi Bin was more lucid than ever before.

He knew that the Yuan people currently in Daning City...
Having experienced the life of the Ming people, they were no longer Yuan people.

Just as he was feeling melancholy and lost in thought, a shout came from the side:
"Brother Mi, we can't stop, let's keep going."
Otherwise, if your body freezes and the ruts freeze, you won't be able to walk at all.

Turning my head, I saw that it was Bayar leading a mule, struggling to walk over.

Every step felt like a heavy burden, incredibly difficult.

"it is good"

Mi Bin knew this was true, so he pulled hard on the reins and continued forward.

As he walked, he shouted, "When will we reach Quanningwei?"

Bayar looked around, then at the gloomy sky.

"I don't know where we are now, but we should be there soon."

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves rang out from ahead.
It was no longer the crisp "da da" sound, but a dull "dong dong".

A fat man, sitting on a warhorse and wrapped in a thick fur coat, kept shouting through a megaphone:
"Attention everyone, keep up! We're only five li from Quanningwei, hang in there!"

The newcomer did not stop, but continued to ride his warhorse backward.

Mi Bin looked to the side:
"There are still five li to go. We should arrive in two more hours."

Bayar brushed the snow off his face, a look of doubt flashing in his eyes:
"How did he know it was still five li? Could he be deliberately lying to us?"

Mi Bin rolled his eyes at him helplessly, not wanting to waste his energy explaining to him.

Judging from my experience over this period, that Lord Lu is truly a natural-born warrior.

They can go as far as they want, and they've never been wrong about the direction.
This saved them from taking many detours.

Bayar realized his mistake, gave an awkward smile, and a deep sense of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

He was a Taiji, and knew what that meant in warfare.
But unfortunately, there was no such person in his tribe, and he couldn't even find anyone who could compare to him.

This made Bayar both wary and incredibly relieved.

Fortunately, those who colluded with him were his own people.

Although the journey was arduous.
But thinking of the load of goods behind him and the transaction that was about to be completed,
Bayar felt a sense of understanding for Mibin; it's good to have a powerful backer.

And so, the convoy struggled to move forward through the wind and snow.

The gloomy weather and the swirling snow made people forget the passage of time, and they could only mechanically move forward.

After an unknown amount of time, the "fat man" from before charged at us again, shouting:

"The entire Ningwei has arrived! Everyone, speed up and get into the camp! Don't stop! Hold on!"

Suddenly, the people who were previously somewhat discouraged and tired perked up.

Mibin and Bayar also began to pull the cart and horses with all their might, striving to move forward.

At the very front of the procession, Lu Yunyi and Wu Fulu had already entered the military camp belonging to Quan Ningwei.
They met Wang Xingbang, a commander who had been waiting there.

"My lord, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for almost two months."

Wang Xingbang appeared very anxious, his eyes, as large as copper bells, blazing with fire.
He couldn't wait to rush out, kill, and seize the credit.

"Hahaha, I won't keep you waiting in vain."

Lu Yunyi dismounted, and soldiers immediately rushed up, using feather dusters to brush the snow off his body.

"My lord, let's hurry into the village."
Everything is ready, we're just waiting for your arrival.

Wang Xingbang said.

"No rush, where's Li Guangyuan?"

Lu Yunyi looked around and asked a question.

Li Guangyuan was the commander of the Quanning Guard and had some relatives with the Duke of Cao.
A few days ago, Duke Cao arrived in Beiping and sent him a letter, asking him to take care of him.

"My lord, Lord Li thought you might not arrive until evening, so he went to inspect the camp."

The snowstorm is too heavy; I'm afraid some malicious people might come and cause trouble.

Wang Xingbang explained.

Lu Yunyi's expression turned serious, and he nodded slightly:

Are there still many Yuan people living in exile?

"many!"

Wang Xingbang led Lu Yunyi to the military tent, talking as they walked.

"My lord, we've been here for two months..."

There were quite a few Yuan people, at least two or three thousand.
They were all unable to survive on the grasslands and wanted to come and seek refuge.

However, Quan Ningwei did not have enough grain and fodder, so they did not accept it.

"Yes, that's right. The ratio of soldiers to Yuan people in the garrisons must be strictly controlled."

If you are promoted and become a high-ranking official in the future, you must continue in this manner and not harbor any illusions.

Lu Yunyi said.

"Yes!"

Wang Xingbang seemed very excited, and his voice became much louder.

As Lu Yunyi walked, he observed the layout of the Quan Ningwei military camp.

Heavy snow fell, enveloping the entire military camp in a silvery white blanket.

The outer walls of the military stronghold were tall and thick, constructed of massive stones and rammed earth.

Although covered in snow, its sturdiness can still be felt.

On the wall, there was a watchtower at regular intervals.

The soldiers on the tower, wrapped in thick cotton-padded clothes, vigilantly watched their surroundings.

At the village gate, the massive wooden door was tightly shut, covered with thick sheet metal.
The steel bars were crisscrossed and very sturdy.

On both sides of the gate, there were chevaux-de-frise and abatis.

Entering the village gate, there is a wide street with neatly arranged barracks on both sides.

The barracks were built of wood, with roofs covered with thick thatch to protect them from wind and snow. On the streets, soldiers were busy clearing snow.

Armed with brooms and shovels, they cleared the snow to the sides of the road, creating a passage for the procession.

At the edge of the horizon, several tall, enormous granaries can still be seen.

The roof of the warehouse was low, weighed down by the snow, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Lu Yunyi observed everything and nodded slightly.
The Quanningwei military camp already resembles a fortified city.
After a few more years of development, once the population increases, this place will become a new city.

Most of the cities outside the Great Wall evolved in this way.

Daning City was originally a military camp.
Later, as the population grew, the area expanded.

When it grows to a certain size, building city walls on it transforms it into a city.

The roads that were frequently traveled outside the city became official roads.

"Not bad. Li Guangyuan really does have some skills."

Wang Xingbang leaned closer and whispered furtively:

"My lord, the Duke of Cao's mansion is providing considerable support to Lord Li."
Supplies were delivered from Beiping every month, in loads of fifty or sixty large carts at a time.
It was full of supplies and materials; I even suspected…

He lowered his voice even further: "And there's also excellent weaponry."

Lu Yunyi looked at him with some surprise after hearing this:
"How did you find out?"

Wang Xingbang's eyes darted around:
"My lord, you've forgotten, I've been transporting grain for almost ten years."

You can tell at a glance what's on the truck and how heavy it is.

On several occasions I saw six or seven large carts, their weight extraordinary.

But the item wasn't particularly bulging; it was clearly made of iron.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Lu Yunyi laughed heartily and patted his shoulder forcefully:

"Fine, you should be assigned to the Grand Canal Administration."
If someone is trying to smuggle in their own agenda, you'll spot it immediately.

"Sir, the people in the Grand Canal Transport Office are far more capable than I am."

They could see it just as clearly, but they just didn't say anything.

This time, Lu Yunyi was genuinely surprised.

In his memory, Wang Xingbang was a brute.

He used to be impulsive and straightforward, but now he's completely changed.

"Xingbang, you've thought this through."

"It's all thanks to your appreciation, sir. If I hadn't become an official, I really wouldn't know the ins and outs of it."

Lu Yunyi patted his arm:

"Don't publicize the matter of Quan Ningwei. It's a good thing that the Duke of Cao's mansion is willing to support Li Guangyuan. The Commander is happy to see it happen."

This place is already harsh, and the commander can't offer much help.
If we don't let people figure out their own solutions, we'll drive them crazy.

"I wouldn't speak carelessly, but I would like to tell Lord Li not to speak ill of us."

If word gets out, it won't sound good, sir.

Wang Xingbang was somewhat reluctant to discuss the matter.

Lu Yunyi knew he was referring to using the military to transport goods, but he didn't pay it any mind.

"What kind of strategy is it to use any means necessary to achieve one's goals?"
Everything can be discussed as long as the war is won.
If you can't win, no amount of fancy tactics will help.

"That is."

"Have you been training these days?"

"Yes, as always, we train twice a day to help the brothers get used to the cold weather."

Some of the brothers complained, saying that Dragon Tail Mountain shouldn't be in such a state.

Lu Yunyi's expression was somewhat solemn:
"Yes, Dragon Tail Mountain shouldn't be that bad."
However, the military must maintain a proper attitude towards battle.

How can we be so careless?
Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit; we should also promote this message effectively.

Don't wait until you're on the battlefield and people have died before you finally realize your mistake; by then it will be too late.

Wang Xingbang's expression tightened, clearly indicating that he also understood the seriousness of the matter:
"My lord, I understand. We must treat every battle as if it were our last."

"Yes, let the brothers prepare themselves and rest."

"Yes!"

The two continued walking forward and soon arrived at the central area of ​​the military camp.

This is the command center of the entire Ningwei.
A tall building stood there, with Ming Dynasty flags flying around the camp, fluttering in the wind and snow.

The room was brightly lit, and Lu Yunyi and Wang Xingbang entered.

Before they could even sit down, the wind and snow outside intensified.

The wind howled through the gaps in the military camp, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Inside the military camp, however, a tense yet orderly scene prevailed.

A rare sense of peace permeated the air.

Li Guangyuan rushed over only after Lu Yunyi took off his cotton-padded coat and put on his new armor.

He was in his thirties, with a stubble beard and cracked skin on his face, making him look like he was in his forties.

At this moment, his head and body were covered with snow.

"Your humble servant Li Guangyuan greets Lord Lu!"

Even though we met during the Chinese New Year, seeing each other again...

Li Guangyuan was still deeply moved, wondering how someone could be so young.

"No need for formalities, please sit."
Patrolling the camp in this freezing weather must be tough.

Lu Yunyi smiled and waved, then went straight to sit at the head of the main hall.

It felt like being at home, without any sense of unfamiliarity.

Li Guangyuan and the surrounding officials could feel his powerful aura, and dared not even breathe loudly.

"Lord Lu, some people can't stand to see Quan Ningwei doing well."
They always manage to sneak in and cause trouble, and there are even instances of collusion between insiders and outsiders.

Li Guangyuan's face turned fierce, and his fists clenched tightly, as if he had thought of something bad.

Lu Yunyi's expression remained calm; he was acutely aware of the plight of the border cities and garrisons.

"Being located on the frontier, this was unavoidable."

Back when I was in Gyeongju, I was constantly harassed by Nahachu's men.

They didn't really want to take over Gyeongju.
It's simply because I can't stand seeing other people living in big houses that provide shelter from the wind and rain.

"The Quanning Guard should train more new soldiers and recruit all Yuan soldiers who are willing to surrender into its ranks."

Let the Yuan people fight the Yuan people; this way, they can check and balance each other.

Li Guangyuan's eyes widened slightly.
The advice his family gave him was this: use force to subdue force.

"Your Excellency is wise."

"Under your management, Quanningwei has already developed some of the potential of a city."
If we continue, it's not impossible for it to become a fortified city.

Lu Yunyi said meaningfully,

He gave Li Guangyuan a meaningful look.

Li Guangyuan's heart was pounding, and his heart was slightly racing.
They traveled a long way to Daning to solidify their foundation and achieve merit.

Although there are not many battles now, if a garrison can be transformed into a city,
That would be a tremendous achievement, and it would greatly benefit my future promotion!

And then he thought of the relationship between Lord Lu and Duke Cao.
Li Guangyuan stood up and bowed deeply:
"Thank you, Lord Lu. I will do my utmost and will not slacken in the slightest."

"Yes, Duke Cao has already arrived in Beiping with Duke Ying."
I should have let you meet him.

But now the wind and snow are heavy, and war is about to break out on the border, so let's just bear with it a little longer.

"You may go to Beiping after the northern expeditionary army has joined forces."

The relationship was stated so bluntly.

Li Guangyuan was somewhat embarrassed, but he still cupped his hands in a respectful gesture:

"Yes, my lord!"

"Well, I'll trouble you to make proper arrangements for the caravan and soldiers."
"We'll set off once the snow stops."

Lu Yunyi spoke calmly.

"Yes, sir. I have already arranged everything, and Lord Lu can use it at any time."

However, if Lord Lu were to leave the country, please be extremely careful.

Li Guangyuan frowned slightly, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes.

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

"Reporting to you, sir, the northern grasslands have become noticeably more chaotic lately."
More and more grassland people came to seek refuge.

After much inquiry, I finally learned that...
It turned out that some Jurchen people had come to harass them, leaving some small tribes without a place to live.

"Harassment?"

Lu Yunyi frowned.
"Are we just going to let the Bai Song tribe and the other major tribes come here like this?"

Li Guangyuan gave a wry smile:
"My lord, with heavy snow falling in winter, those grassland people are all hiding in their tents; they wouldn't be out patrolling."

Furthermore, I suspect they did it intentionally.

Let these Jurchens clean up these small tribes.
Once the Jurchens left, these water sources and grasslands would become theirs.

"Yes, you have a point."
For the people of the grasslands, it's better to avoid trouble. What about the Baisong tribe?

"Bai Song tribe?" Li Guangyuan was taken aback, his expression somewhat strange.
About a month ago, the Bai Song tribe fought a major battle with the Jurchens and suffered a crushing defeat.

(End of this chapter)