The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 322 The General

To the south of Horqin lies a vast desert basin, difficult for people and animals to cross, and forcibly traversing it would come at a great cost.

Under normal circumstances, a large army needs to move eastward, not directly southward.

We need to go to a place about seven or eight hundred miles to the east, to a very large lake. This is our destination. Because the lake is so large that people cannot see its edge, it is called a sea, specifically Shuangquan Sea.

Shuangquanhai is the farthest point in the northeastern corner of the Hanhai Basin.

Together with the eastern corridor outside Jizhou in the far south, it forms a funnel-shaped terrain.

It is wider in the north and narrower in the south.

This demonstrates the importance of Shuangquanhai; no one could overlook such a geographical feature.

One of the most famous sites is the ruins of a palace, which belonged to Genghis Khan.

In the Mongol era, it was called Sarichuan, which in Han Chinese terms means "flat plain".

Because this area is flat, it is suitable for a large army to march south.

Kou can go, so can I.

The Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty personally led a large army to this place, which is the famous Battle of Hulanhushiwen in history.

Centuries later.

The place became lively once again.

When Ou Yanhu led his northern expedition against the Hu people, he had less than 30,000 men when he passed through this area. This time, he returned with more than 70,000 troops, but in reality, he had less than 80,000. There were also tens of thousands of women and children in the rear.

Driving a large herd of cattle and sheep, they urgently need a fertile land to rest and recuperate.

"I once had no fewer than 50,000 people in Dabansheng. It was the most fertile land I had ever seen in most of my life, and it could easily support 100,000 people."

As the army moved on, complaints gradually increased.

Ou Yanhu erected a new golden tent on the former site.

The Taijis and generals from various departments came before Ou Yanhu, and none of them dared to oppose him in his presence.

Ou Yanhu's expression remained calm, without the expected indignation.

This calm gave many people courage, but also deterred many from taking any rash actions.

Ignoring the thoughts of his people, Ou Yanhu seemed unconcerned that they might waver, and said with emotion, "I never thought that I would lose this land. Now I will take it back and take revenge on the Great Zhou, making the Great Zhou compensate me for my losses."

Sukh, Mali, and Erlian, these generals from the Hu tribes, were full of confidence in their Khan.

No matter how fierce a tribe was, it would be conquered by the Great Khan.

The Great Khan was the most powerful enemy they had ever faced.

Bi Sheng hesitated.

Bi Sheng knew more about the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The troublesome Wang Xin, who had been a headache before, caused great distress to the various tribes outside the pass as soon as he arrived in Datong. What was even more surprising was his audacity in snatching something from the jaws of a tiger, which was truly astonishing.

The timing of this arrest was too coincidental.

Too early is not good, too late is not good either, leaving one helpless.

Ou Yanhu glanced at the crowd, who became even quieter. Seeing that no one had anything to say, Ou Yanhu confidently held up three fingers.

"Three years."

"In just three years, we will be even stronger, and the cause of unification will not only not be hindered, but will become even more rapid and unstoppable."

Ou Yanhu said firmly.

Hearing the three-year promise, many people breathed a sigh of relief. The endless battles, with no end in sight, had left many weary.

However, to everyone's surprise, the person Ou Yanhu arranged to stay behind was not Su He and others whom he trusted the most, but Bi Sheng instead.

Amidst the astonished looks of the crowd, Ou Yanhu left Bi Sheng behind.

“Three years have passed, but the repercussions of Mo Bisheng’s affair are still lingering. With Zhou Jun’s movements, some people are getting restless. If I had the temper I had when I was younger, I would have killed all of them.”

Bi Sheng swallowed hard and quickly said, "I am utterly loyal to the Great Khan."

Ou Yanhu did not respond.

The silence at the scene was eerily quiet, and Bi Sheng felt a pang of regret.

He had heard some rumors, but out of consideration for their former tribe, Bi Sheng did not tell the Great Khan.

It wasn't that he was disloyal to the Great Khan, but rather that he had his own selfish motives in this matter.

If the Great Khan were to become angry and punish the original Mobisheng tribe, these people would also be part of his forces. Eliminating them would be tantamount to weakening Bisheng's power.

There is no reasoning on the vast grasslands.

Whoever is stronger can set the rules.

Those without strength will only be targeted and wait for an opportunity to be swallowed up.

"You and Ryan stay here and hold this place."

Bi Sheng was stunned.

He simply couldn't understand the Khan's thoughts.

If you don't trust them, why not urge them to go south to fight instead of leaving them in the rear?

Ou Yanhu suddenly laughed.

Bi Sheng felt increasingly aggrieved.

Oh my goodness.

The Khan was actually mocking himself.

The Khan's hair is turning whiter and whiter. He is no longer the same as he was back in the Daban Sheng region. Back then, Oyanhu Taiji was a strong and powerful warrior. Only a few years have passed, and time waits for no one.

Bi Sheng lowered his head.

Ou Yanhu looked at the back of Bi Sheng's head, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

In the past, he was very demanding of his subordinates.

I don't think so anymore.

“You are a man with a broad perspective. You know what we are facing and where our opportunities lie, which is why I kept you here. You will assist Ryan in stabilizing the rear, while I will personally lead Sukhe and the others to defeat the Zhou army.”

Ou Yanhu stared at Bi Sheng.

Bi Sheng faced the pressure head-on, barely daring to breathe, feeling suffocated, when suddenly a brilliant idea flashed in his mind.

Use the skilled Hu to deal with the unskilled Hu, and use the unskilled Hu to deal with the Zhou army.

Why does it feel familiar?

Bi Sheng hadn't figured it out, but he understood the Khan's plan.

After much thought, I am filled with admiration.

Although Chaolu and Temu were no ordinary barbarians, they were among the most intelligent of the barbarians. They would certainly not let this opportunity pass, and while the Khan was leading his army south, they would definitely launch a surprise attack on the women and children in the rear.

They not only captured women and children and killed children, but also stole cattle and sheep.

This is the problem they face.

On one side was Zhou Jun, and on the other side were the remnants of Sheng Hu's forces.

Neither side should be underestimated.

Zhou Jun's army is strong and powerful, so the Khan must launch a full-scale attack.

Although the Hu people are few in number and weak in strength, they still cannot be underestimated because of their advantageous terrain. Otherwise, all previous efforts could be wasted and the promising situation could be ruined.

In such a situation, it's inevitable that people will feel uneasy.

Those who were dissatisfied with the Khan were secretly colluding with each other.

it's good now.

According to the Khan's plan.

These people from the Dabansheng region fought against the Shenghu tribes, including Chaolu. Because of the deep-seated hatred between the two sides, even those who were dissatisfied with the Khan could only do their best and would never dare to surrender to the Shenghu.

Those tribes that absorbed the native Hu people were not afraid of the Zhou army, nor could they have any dealings with it.

If someone in the Great Zhou is colluding with the Khan, does that mean no one on their side is colluding with the Great Zhou?
Those who can secretly communicate with the Great Zhou must come from the Shu tribe.

This eliminated the biggest risks on both sides and protected women, children, cattle, and sheep to the greatest extent possible.

"The Khan's wisdom is as awe-inspiring as the sun in the sky."

Bi Sheng said, convinced.

Ou Yanhu didn't smile; instead, his expression was complicated. Bi Sheng thought he had said something wrong. "Da Rong is dead, Saihan is dead too. Ning Longxiong, Batel, Shuo Erhui, Amur, Dardai, Aldai," Ou Yanhu recited a string of names he remembered, and many others he didn't.

“Since Wang Xin came, one after another has died at his hands. This man is not to be underestimated. This time when I go south, I will definitely kill him.”

Ou Yanhu seemed to have made up his mind.

Bi Sheng wanted to remind the Khan that the Yongxing Army was the biggest enemy, but considering the Khan's wisdom, he did not refute it.

And they also felt fear.

Wang Xin is different from other Zhou generals. The style of those Zhou generals doesn't work on him at all. If we can eliminate him, it would indeed be a great thing.

"I'm afraid this person will be difficult to deal with."

Bi Sheng frowned.

Ou Yanhu smiled.

There's no need to tell Bi Sheng how to deal with Zhou Jun; Bi Sheng's success in protecting the women and children in the rear is already a great achievement.

soon.

The army quickened its pace.

One by one, they left Shuangquanhai and rushed towards that side.

After traveling two thousand miles and arriving at Saiyinshanda, Ou Yanhu slowed down and used this place as a base to send out units one by one.

The Yellow River is too big.

Compared to the Shuangquanhai area to the north, the Xiaohuanghe area has shrunk by ten times, but it is still very large.

Therefore, the Yellow River is not a checkpoint.

soon.

The area around the Yellow River is like a torrent, with emergencies reported everywhere and warnings issued across the region.

Even in Guihua City, traces of the Hu cavalry were discovered.

Many herders suffered from the disaster.

"Bang bang bang."

A man returned to the tent, took down the musket hanging there, took out a matchlock from the box, hooked the three-inch-long matchlock with a matchlock hook, and as he left the tent, he lit one end of the matchlock that had fallen to his waist with the open flame in the brazier.

Then pull the fuse, bring the lit end close to the fire door, and press down the fire cap.

The match cord, soaked in a special solution and dried in the sun, burns slowly like a mosquito coil. Simply pull the trigger, and the burning end of the match cord will be pressed into the powder chamber by the cap, igniting the gunpowder inside.

He was very familiar with the musket in his hand.

The man stood fearlessly at the tent entrance and, amidst the panicked cries of his wife and daughters, fired at the Hu people.

The arquebus is simple to use; although it is cumbersome, it requires neither skill nor strength.

A Hu man was shot off his horse, and he was in so much pain that he could not even utter a sound.

His companions were shocked and quickly drew their bows.

The man was riddled with bullets and died quickly.

The Hu people killed this herding family, but they themselves lost one person, so they were not happy.
-
The war has begun.

Wang Xin frowned, not expecting that Ou Yanhu's choice was not the Yongxing Army, nor himself, nor the Tiancheng Army, but the herdsmen under the Juzhongchang Trading Company.

"I think this is good."

Hu Liyong said this deliberately, and even raised his eyebrows at Wang Xin.

Juzhongchang has a very complicated background. In Datong, it can be said that Wang Xin is behind it, and this is not a secret in Datong.

Hu Liyong used to be very envious.

Several businessmen from other places contacted him, but they were quickly ousted by local bigwigs. Without the investment and management of businessmen, Hu Liyong couldn't manage it all on his own, and it eventually failed completely.

Not only did they not make any money, they also lost money.

Those local bigwigs were the owners of Juzhongchang, so Hu Liyong naturally attributed it to Wang Xin. They must have had Wang Xin's approval behind them.

Wang Xin looked at Zhang Wenjin.

Zhang Wenjin looked troubled, unable to come up with a solution.

Knowing about troops is one thing, but commanding a battle for the first time is another.

The generals inside the tent exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable, seemingly still unsatisfied.

Wang Xin knew where the conflict lay.

It was not uncommon for civil officials to be in charge of military operations, especially in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty. It was the norm for civil officials to be in charge of military operations, and all military officers were subject to the command of civil officials, including Qi Jiguang.

Military generals are only responsible for the specifics of fighting on the battlefield.

The troop movements, the arrangement of provisions, the strategies against the enemy—everything was directed by civil officials.

What are the downsides?

Even the most capable civil governor-general is still separated from the grassroots level of the army, cannot command them effectively, and can never truly integrate with the army.

Therefore, even though the Ming Dynasty had achieved such a high degree of control over the military through civil administration, in the late Ming Dynasty, only military officers became warlords, and no civil officials became warlords.

The Yongxing Army was directly under the command of Zhang Wenjin, and its subordinates still recognized several generals and commanders.

Everyone has their own ideas; they can't all be of one mind.

How can one achieve such mastery?

They cannot be as still as the forest, as swift as the wind, as aggressive as fire, or as immovable as a mountain.

However, these are Zhang Wenjin's problems. He can't change the facts by speaking out, it will only annoy people. He can only solve the problems he can solve himself, and Wang Xin is well aware of this.

"The stability of Datong in recent years is inseparable from the resettlement of disaster victims in the area outside the Great Wall."

"How can the Great Harmony be unstable?"

Hu Liyong retorted before Wang Xin could finish speaking.

Wang Xin looked at Hu Liyong.

Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two, a guerrilla fighter inside the tent couldn't help but say, "Compared to other places, Datong is indeed more peaceful."

Hu Liyong was furious upon hearing this and yelled at the guerrilla, "You little guerrilla, what right do you have to speak here?"

Wei Yi was humiliated by Hu Liyong. The difference in their social status was too great, and he lowered his head with his face flushed.

However, some people were unhappy about it.

"Can't people even speak?"

Hu Liyong glared at the man, who glared back without backing down.

"General Hu, General Feng, a great battle is about to begin. Are you two going to fight amongst yourselves?" Zhang Wenjin asked with a look of dissatisfaction.

Feng Meng was the commander-in-chief of the left flank of the Yongxing Army.

The Yongxing Army and the Tiancheng Army had been at odds for many years. The Yongxing Army had always bullied the Tiancheng Army by relying on Feng Yong's power. Hu Liyong had suffered a lot of humiliation over the years, but his life only got better after Feng Yong was transferred away.

However, the feud between the Yongxing Army and the Tiancheng Army has not been resolved.

It's unclear whether Zhang Wenjin truly didn't see it or was pretending not to, but he allowed the two armies to engage in some underhanded maneuvers in private. Only when things escalated to the surface would Zhang Wenjin intervene to suppress them.

Knowing he was outnumbered and outmatched, Hu Liyong was unwilling to cause any trouble; it was better to avoid getting involved.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Zhang Wenjin.

"The Hu people kill the herdsmen, and the herdsmen can also kill the Hu people. The best strategy is to let the herdsmen wear down the Hu people before the main force arrives. Someone is too soft-hearted, and the commander-in-chief must not be trusted."

Zhang Wenjin was very cautious and knew his own shortcomings, so he often consulted with Wang Xin, Hu Liyong, and other generals such as Feng Meng for their opinions.

While there were no outstanding moments, there were also no mistakes.

really.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenjin was deeply moved.

If he could exchange the herdsmen for the lives of the Hu people, this deal would be a worthwhile one for him.

Seeing that Zhang Wenjin was tempted, Hu Liyong quickly said, "The success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand. Even if ten thousand herdsmen die, as long as we defeat Ou Yanhu, it will be the right thing to do."

Done.

Hu Liyong glanced at Wang Xin with disdain. "I've often heard General Wang say that he'll stop at nothing to win a battle. Are you going to go back on your word?"

Everyone turned to look at Wang Xin.

(End of this chapter)