The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 46 Xu Dahu
The clear and cool weather in autumn is suitable for long journeys. Moreover, there are only more than a thousand troops this time, and they are all elite cavalry, so the marching speed is very fast.

After reaching Guanzhong, everyone continued to move south.

During the break, Ma Xun started to prepare fodder, and Wangcai rubbed his head against Ma Xun's arm affectionately. It also carried Ma Xun's belongings, including clothes for changing.

"Wangcai, do you think I should go out to fight next year?" Ma Xun grabbed Wangcai's head and said, "I always feel regretful if I don't go out to fight. Why shouldn't a man carry a Wu Gou, right? But I always feel that it will be difficult for me to go out without a year or two!"

Wangcai did not respond and continued to eat with his head down. This donkey is really greedy.

Ma Xun continued, "If I don't come out with you, I always feel that I am not capable enough, and I might just be doing more harm than good. I want to improve nursing, but I may not be able to train enough people all at once."

Wangcai still ignored Ma Xun and continued to eat and drink happily. No wonder his fur has become shiny and his body has become fat and strong recently. This is all due to his diet, there is no other reason.

Ma Xun lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Wangcai, I think if there is really a great honor for the meritorious official, he might even be one of the six founding dukes. Feng Sheng's luck might have been taken away by me, and he can only be a marquis."

Wangcai seemed to dislike Ma Xun's noise and shook his head impatiently, but Ma Xun thought it was a response.

Ma Xun said happily, "The grand ceremony of conferring titles on meritorious officials should be held at the end of next year. It's no problem for Feng Sheng to be conferred the title of Duke. He is Feng Guoyong's younger brother, and he is also a top general in the army."

If Feng Sheng returned to the capital without permission, he would be punished by the emperor, and his achievement in the Battle of Qingyang would be discounted.

The peak of Feng Sheng's military achievements were the Battle of Qingyang and the Battle of Lingbei.

In the Battle of Lingbei, Xu Da's central army was badly defeated, Li Wenzhong's eastern army gained and lost equally, and only the western army led by Feng Sheng made some gains.

Now that Chang Yuchun is still here, Feng Sheng has no chance of getting past the military troika.

This doesn't seem right. The battle of Lingbei should not happen next year, but may take several years. The focus of next year is to fight Wang Baobao. Only when Wang Baobao is driven out of Ningxia can the battle of Lingbei take place.

Next year's war may be a warm-up for the Battle of Lingbei. Only when the remnants of the Yuan court are truly driven back to the grasslands can the Ming Dynasty march north to decide the outcome of the war in one battle.

Ma Xun didn't care much whether Ming would be the Sixth Duke or the Seventh Duke next year. He knew that he would most likely be the Duke of Xu. Unless he made a lot of big mistakes in just one year, his position would be stable.

He Xiao came running over and said, "My uncle, the general asked you to lead the troops as Tangqi."

Ma Xun immediately scratched his head, "What do you think the general means? In order to win me over to fight, he always gives me special treatment along the way."

He Da said enviously, "Others can't even ask for it. The general has been explaining the art of war and tactics to the uncle all the way. Those people in the army must be jealous."

Ma Xun looked at He Da and asked, "Uncle He, how much do you think I listened to? In my opinion, if I fight a few more battles, I will probably be able to be a guard commander."

"That's too high, too high." He Da didn't give him any face and said, "Uncle of the King, at the rate you are, you can only pacify them!"

There is nothing much to say to this brave soldier who only knows how to fight and wants to go to the battlefield with only one arm. He has no knowledge of the ways of the world and always says hurtful things.

Ma Xun didn't waste any time. He jumped on his horse and started marching forward with Wangcai. Dozens of cavalrymen behind him quickly gathered and followed. Ma Xun didn't need to make any arrangements. Everyone knew what to do.

He Da and a few others followed Ma Xun, constantly explaining the countermeasures for various terrains and various emergencies. However, these people's expertise was to protect Ma Xun, so most of the strategies they proposed were to save lives.

It was their mission to save Ma Xun's life and take him out of the chaotic battle. As for the war, that was the mission of the army. Once the war deteriorated, the missions of the generals, family commanders and ordinary soldiers were different.

There were only more than a thousand troops, and time was tight, so Ma Xun and his men moved very quickly.

Without sparing any effort and without any delays in the army, Ma Xun and his men could run nearly 100 miles a day and could return to the capital in less than a month. As for Ma Xun's strength, it was still forced to do something. It was just a simple march or some small training, and the effect of the training was average, not to mention that he did not seem to have a very high military talent.

Another day of running around ended, and Xu Da came over as usual, "Are you tired from the journey? Do you want to take a break?"

Ma Xun replied, "I can't say I'm tired, it's just riding a horse. If it was really too much for me earlier, I don't feel like I can't handle it now."

After all, he had fought in battles over thousands of miles, and even though his riding skills were not very advanced, he had no problem with daily marching and traveling.

Xu Da handed Ma Xun a pot of wine and said, "Send some snacks over so we can have a good drink."

Ma Xun immediately became cautious and said quickly, "Brother Xu, I don't understand military affairs. There are some things that His Majesty will not discuss with me, which is inappropriate."

"It's appropriate, how can it not be appropriate?" Xu Da encouraged with a smile, "If His Majesty doesn't discuss it with you, he will definitely discuss it with Her Majesty the Queen. Can't you just say a few good words for me?"

Ma Xun said hurriedly, "Brother Xu, how dare I say more about military and national affairs!"

"This is your own business. You will come out with me next year. After we defeat Wang Baobao, we will chase out Emperor Yuan." Xu Da began to make plans in a serious manner. "Since Kaiping was captured, Emperor Yuan is now in Yingchang."

and many more?

Emperor Yuan is in Yingchang?
Then I can't go either. Li Baoer is about to attack Huanglong and reach another peak in his military career. How can I go and cause trouble?
No one could catch Emperor Shun of Yuan Dynasty because he was about to die, but Emperor Zhao of Yuan Dynasty was a possibility. After all, if the second Northern Expedition continued this time, the military situation of the Ming Dynasty would be different.

Ma Zhao found an excuse and said, "Brother Xu, I don't think I can leave next year. I would like to join the army, but I have to get married next year. If I don't have any children, it will be difficult for me to leave the capital again."

Although Xu Da was a little disappointed, he also understood the situation. "That's true. You definitely won't be able to come out next year. I didn't expect to capture Emperor Yuan next year. I have to fight Wang Baobao first next year."

Then Xu Da said, "Little brother, don't just be close to Chang. Listen to me, Old Chang has just recovered from a serious illness and needs to rest, and his troops have been taken away by Wen Zhong. Next year, if we divide the troops into two groups to fight Wang Baobao, it will still be me."

Ma Xun thought it made sense and nodded, but he always felt something was wrong.

Xu Da continued, "When the time comes, Lao Chang and I will each lead a group of troops to fight Wang Baobao, and Feng Sheng and others will fight Huoerhuda in Hebei. One is to support us, and the other is to completely drive the Tartars out, so that the north will be stable."

Ma Xun felt that it made more sense, but what are you telling me?

Xu Da was getting a little anxious. This uncle of the emperor was good in every way except that he was too stable. He didn't look like a 20-year-old. So sometimes it was not easy to fool him, because he would not easily express his opinion.

It can't be considered as fooling around, this is just Xu Da's hard work.

Fighting Wang Baobao next year will be an absolutely big deal. Whether it is Xu Da or Chang Yuchun, they will definitely grab the task of taking the main attack, and no one else will have a chance to compete with them.

So at this time, it would be good to be able to get some help.

The Queen can influence the Emperor, and the King's brother-in-law can say good things in front of the Queen!
As for why he was certain that there would be two armies, it was naturally because a general like Xu Da had already had a plan in mind. Not to mention that the Battle of Qingyang had ended, Xu Da was planning the next stage of the war before it ended.

As they got closer to the capital, Xu Da became more and more anxious. Based on his understanding of Chang Yuchun, he must have been constantly making noise in front of the emperor and must have been bargaining for a long time.

If he can convince the king's uncle first, and then with his own military achievements, there is a high probability that Lao Chang will continue to serve as the deputy general!

Now Xu Da is not afraid of great military achievements. He is only worried that he cannot capture Wang Baobao and Emperor Yuan!

(End of this chapter)