The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 39 Whose credit is it?

In the hot summer, the army continued to trek towards Qingyang, thousands of miles away.

Fortunately, it is the beginning of autumn. Although it is still very hot, it is slightly better in the morning and evening.

But this also means that the army needs to march faster and have less time to rest.

"Go prepare some salt water for the soldiers." Ma Xun ordered, "Remember this in the future. It is good to drink some salt water after sweating. It will prevent dehydration."

Lan Yu took note of it silently, thinking that what the miracle doctor said must be right.

Mu Ying said, "Don't worry, uncle. It has been like this for the past few days. The soldiers have all drunk the righteous water and salt water."

Some ungrateful people secretly fell down, that was the soldiers' own business, but most people did not do so.

Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease. Although everyone thinks they are not sick, knowing that this thing can prevent heatstroke makes it worth drinking.

Ma Xun continued to add, "Next time, have someone send more garlic over. This stuff can help prevent some plague. Don't think it tastes bad, it helps prevent malaria and diarrhea."

Mu Ying quickly said, "Don't worry, uncle. The army will also have some garlic. Many people know that it can eliminate evil spirits and kill poison."

Many people already know some of the benefits of garlic, but they don’t prepare much of it. Some people also complain that eating too much garlic leaves a strong taste in their mouths.

Ma Xun would not underestimate the wisdom and accumulation of the ancients. He was able to bring some advanced concepts and technologies, but they might not be fully applicable to the present.

The current food crisis has not been completely resolved. The most important thing in the fields is food, so it is naturally impossible to plant more crops such as garlic.

Ma Xun was used to experiencing some "acclimatization problems" and didn't think it was a big problem.

Continuing to march with the army, getting closer and closer to Qingyang, Ma Xun became nervous but also excited.

A war with a scale of more than 200,000 people is not something you can see whenever you want. It is not a fight with cold weapons, as firearms such as muskets and bowl-mouth muskets have been deployed in large quantities.

The Ming army's use of firearms now accounts for nearly one-third of the total number of troops, and Deng Yu is an expert in the use of firearms.

When Ma Xun was excited, the messenger came on horseback to report, "The general ordered the general who guards the country to lead 5,000 elite cavalry to Qingyang as soon as possible!"

Ma Xun was stunned. He knew that the cavalry marched even slower than the infantry during the march. But now it was different. He was required to lead the cavalry to charge forward.

Lan Yu immediately said, "Uncle, Mu Ying and I will follow you and lead the cavalry to Qingyang as soon as possible. The war must be urgent!"

Ma Xun also thought so. As long as he was not asked to lead the troops alone, it would be fine. He did not have that ability.

Xu Da not only asked Ma Xun to lead his troops to provide assistance, he also made arrangements for other generals. There were still tens of thousands of infantrymen who needed to continue marching, so they had to be arranged properly.

Wangcai started running after the warhorse. Fortunately, although they were marching quickly and not galloping, Wangcai could still keep up with the speed.

Ma Xun didn't understand and asked, "Brother Lan, why did the general ask us to go to Qingyang as soon as possible?"

"There are few cavalry. Although not all the Tartars are cavalry, they cannot be underestimated." Lan Yu said, "Infantry is used to attack the city, but the reinforcements of Wang Baobao, the villain, must be attacked by cavalry."

Ma Xun thought it made perfect sense. It must be because there were not enough troops, which was why Xu Da transferred him.

While Ma Xun and others were marching quickly, flags were flying outside Qingyang City, and the powerful Ming army was ready for a decisive battle.

Xu Da looked at the city in the distance carefully and said, "Order all the key places to be guarded, and Feng Sheng to guard Yimaguan Pass. The army will gather in Yuanzhou, and then go and urge the king's uncle."

This time the Battle of Qingyang lasted for a long time. Counting from the early cleanup of the periphery, it started in the first month of the year.

The formal attack on Qingyang began in May, during which Zhang Liangchen surrendered and then rebelled again. It has been three months, and even though the Ming army had lost Jingchuan and other places before, Qingyang was an isolated city. Now there are basically no reinforcements, and the food and grass in the city are basically gone.

After Feng Sheng seized Yima Pass in time and defended Li Wenzhong to lift the siege of Datong, the Ming army could besiege Qingyang at any time.

Xu Da naturally would not miss the opportunity to fight just to wait for Ma Xun, but if Ma Xun could arrive in time, he would definitely get some military merit!

When it comes to prudence and understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts, few people are more experienced than Xu Da.

Xu Da's military achievement of taking Qingyang and completing the Northern Expedition was number one, and no one could replace him, not even Chang Yuchun.

Giving up some of the credit brought no pressure to Xu Da, nor did he worry about his position being replaced.

Although the emperor's letter still mentioned that the overall situation and war should be the top priority, he also mentioned the need to take care of the emperor's uncle.

This meaning is also very easy to understand. If the uncle can arrive before the Battle of Qingyang, he can participate in this battle. If he doesn't go to the front line, he will come with reinforcements, which is a military achievement!
What's more, the king's uncle had a lot of soldiers and horses under his command. Whether it was Lan Yu or Mu Ying and others who went into battle to kill the enemy, they naturally had their contributions, but most of the military merits belonged to the main general Ma Xun.

It is too easy to give up the credit. Xu Da and Chang Yuchun have not worried about not having enough military merits for a long time. What they are worried about is that they have too much military merits!
Military orders kept coming in, and Ma Xun and others were worried that the war was urgent.

Xu Da gradually felt relieved. According to the marching speed of the emperor's uncle, he should be able to catch up with the decisive battle.

Xu Da did not delay any longer and decisively ordered, "Right Deputy General Feng Sheng to attack the west gate, Imperial Censor Tang He to attack the north gate, Deputy Governor Gu Shi to attack the east gate, and Councillor Dai De to lead troops to attack the south gate. Surround the city from all sides and attack it!"

The brutal war started again. Qingyang was now out of ammunition and food, cut off from outside aid and communication. Wang Baobao's strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao had been foiled.

Zhang Liangchen was extremely worried. The Ming army's attack on the city was very fierce, and the defenders in the city were in panic.

Zhang Liangchen regretted it, and after barely repelling the Ming army again, he climbed up the city wall and shouted, "General Xu Da, I surrender!"

Xu Da snorted coldly and ordered his men to pass on the message, "This man surrendered and then rebelled again, attacking and killing our army that accepted the surrender, and even the commander Zhang Huan was captured and killed. Previously, Yuanzhou was lost and Chen Shou died in battle! I will capture and kill those who are trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm!"

Zhang Liangchen was extremely frightened, he was at the end of his rope.

As a defending general, he didn't have enough food. The ordinary soldiers even boiled some corpses into soup and ate them with mud.

After a day of intense fighting, Tang He came running over impatiently, "Tian De, touch me again at night!"

Xu Da refused directly, "Brother, Zhang Liangchen must be prepared. A night attack will only increase the casualties of our men."

Tang He became even more anxious. He started from a very high point, but was surpassed step by step by the people around him. He was just waiting to make the first contribution by attacking Qingyang.

But now the credit was basically taken away by Feng Sheng, because Feng Sheng occupied Yimaguan in time and saved the army from the crisis of being besieged. This was the moment that turned the tide of the war.

What will happen if he doesn't make any achievements? Zhuge Liang said that if he doesn't reward meritorious officials at the end of this year, he will definitely reward meritorious officials at the beginning of next year!
Tang He suddenly asked, "When will Chongba's brother-in-law arrive?"

"Two days at most." Xu Da said with a smile, "Let him go to your place?"

Tang He immediately shook his head, "I don't have that ability. If he gets hurt, I won't be able to explain. Tiande, it looks like you're waiting for him to come before breaking into the city!"

Xu Da smiled and said, "It depends on how long Zhang Liangchen can hold out. I predict that he will definitely break out. If we beat him back in the next two days, there will be many remnants of his army, and then we can break into the city!"

Tang He couldn't help but look at Xu Da and said with emotion, "No wonder you can become a general, you have calculated the time well!"

Ma Xun, who was racing against time, felt more and more that something was wrong. He had already met the scouts who were supposed to support him along the way.

They're already besieging Qingyang, and I'm rushing here to watch others perform meritorious deeds?
(End of this chapter)