Returning
In the battles of Yinma River and Liuhua River, the Ming army killed more than 17,000 enemies and captured more than 40,000 people. On the way back, they brought back all the tribes they could meet in the southeast of Horqin Grassland, which made the Tatars strong.
Seriously injured, even though Arutai was furious, he would not have the strength to fight another battle with Liaodong for the time being, unless he held the thought of subjugating the country and mobilized all the troops on the western front facing Oara to march eastward.
This battle not only completely resolved the military pressure faced by the Liaodong capital, but also had a far-reaching impact. The various tribes in the Nuergan area that had long since escaped the control of the Yuan Dynasty sent envoys to express their goodwill to Xia Xun, and strongly invited the Ming court to send people to appease Xia Xun.
, at the same time, various tribes in Liaodong that were affiliated with North Korea also stepped up their activities and wanted to attach themselves to the Ming Dynasty.
North Korea was angry and anxious, but could do nothing about it. It did not dare to use force. Even if the Ming Dynasty did not achieve a great victory in Liaodong, it was not something it could deal with. Originally, it could have shown off its force to the Jurchen tribes who had surrendered.
Intimidate them into not acting rashly. These tribes are so close to North Korea that they cannot help but look at its face.
However, when North Korea sent an envoy to Xia Xun to raise the issue of the ownership of these Jurchen tribes, they specifically cited this reason that they thought was very powerful: "Their tribes are very close to our country, North Korea!"
Xia Xun only replied lightly: "North Korea is also very close to me, Liaodong!"
Because of this sentence, North Korea did not even dare to use force to intimidate the dissident Jurchen tribes. The governor of Liaodong was so different from the previous Ming officials. This man was a scoundrel, a madman, and a desperado. They were not afraid of him.
The Ming Dynasty's royal teachings were afraid of the knife in Xia Xun's hand.
Therefore, Zhu Di's cheap father-in-law Ahachu took the lead in joining the Ming court, and then one after another Jurchen tribes submitted submissions to the Ming court, expressing their allegiance. The only thing North Korea could do was to protest and pay serious attention. Xia Xun had no time to pay attention to it.
North Korea, he is digesting the fruits of his victory.
Xia Xun has no intention of continuing the western expedition against the Tatars. It is beneficial to him to let the Tatars and Oara continue to confront each other for now. Moreover, the last battle was fought so easily, mainly relying on the rebellion of Mengge Timur. If another battle is fought,
Xia Xun was not sure of winning the battle. If he lost, all his previous efforts would be wasted. Even if he won, rapid expansion would be beneficial and harmless.
The only benefit it can bring is to leave a name in history. However, in a few years, these baseless territories will have to be "vomited" out. The Ming Dynasty cannot digest such a large population and territory at once. This is not the case.
In such a prosperous land, every time you occupy an additional area, you invest far more than you get.
Therefore, Xia Xun is now striving for stability, slowly encroaching, and consolidating every step he takes. Otherwise, some accidental factors may occur, and the good situation will completely collapse. For Liaodong, this stability is mainly internal.
Consolidation, integration, and rooting are the main aspects of Xia Xun's current governance.
Various ethnic groups live together here, and the subordinate tribes have considerable autonomy. The situation is very complicated, and it will take a long period of time to slowly change. During this period, power and iron fists and gentle methods must go hand in hand, with a combination of hardness and softness.
Those who are strong will inevitably fail, and those who do not know how to compromise and tolerate will not achieve great things. To achieve such a goal, of course, we cannot expect Xia Xun to do it alone. He can formulate policies, but there must also be someone to implement them unswervingly.
His policy, in this case, must tie together all available forces.
Using economic interests, he has tied together the Jurchens, Japanese, Japanese and Han people in Liaodong. To bind the civil and military bureaucrats of the Liaodong shogunate together, common political interests are needed. This political interest
, right now it’s military merit.
Therefore, in Xia Xun's memorial, the list of meritorious service is as long as a thousand lines. These people are not all soldiers who fought bloody battles on the front line. For example, when he mentioned the loyalty of the three guards of Wuliangha, he had to mention it in passing.
In Yishuha, Zhang Xitong and others promoted and educated the above tribes. It was precisely because of their propaganda and education that these tribes strengthened their loyalty and enlightenment.
When talking about a great victory on the front line, we have to mention how Wanshiyu, Huang Zhen, Shaoyunfeng and others raised food and transport soldiers in the rear; when talking about which soldiers and horses of the guards were used in the battle, we have to mention the guards who did not go into battle.
How to shoulder the rear defense and guard against it so that the Tatars have no chance to take advantage. In short, everyone is happy and can unite as one.
In the Governor's Mansion, Xia Xun and the civil and military generals gathered together and were discussing official matters. The Russian girls Sanapova and Zilata came in with fruit plates and tea. They only knew the simplest Chinese vocabulary now, so they didn't care about these officials at all.
What were they talking about? They just served the tea like two butterflies in flowers. The atmosphere of the meeting became much more relaxed because of these two beautiful women.
Zhang Jun said with a smile: "My lord, after this great victory, we can ensure that there will be no war in Liaodong for the time being. The war between the Tatars and Oara is getting more and more intense. The two sides refuse to give in to each other. Taking advantage of our injuries this time,
The Tatars have lost their vitality, and the Walas are pressing harder and harder. The more the fighting power between them is exhausted, the safer we will be."
Xia Xun nodded and said: "Yes, but military training must not be relaxed for a moment. On the Tatar side, don't let them regard us as evil spirits. I know that some Tatar tribes used to pretend to be nomadic tribes from the Nurgan region in the north and come to trade.
, go back in exchange for some daily necessities such as tea leaves and iron pots. From now on, let them leave it to them, let alone pursue them.
We need to show our goodwill and let them know that we welcome doing business in a regular manner. This will help eliminate the hostility between ordinary herdsmen and us. Furthermore, every time they sell us another horse,
If we buy one more horse, they will have one less horse. If we buy one more cow or sheep, they will have less raw materials for making bows and crossbows. But we are just the opposite. If we ask them to provide anything else, they will not be able to provide it.
No matter what, this is something that is beneficial to the country."
When it came to political affairs in the second half, he was talking to Wanshiyu, and the shogunate quickly nodded in agreement.
Xia Xun said to him again: "Agriculture, commerce, and all aspects must be grasped. The most important thing for us next is to manage Liaodong and turn our place into an indestructible outpost at the northernmost point of the imperial court. In this way.
, we must maintain adequate supplies. Once a war breaks out, our military reserves here must be able to provide long-term combat needs. The replenishment of soldiers, the replenishment of military horses, the storage of military rations... If these things are transported from within the customs, the consumption will be higher than
Much more grain and fodder has arrived, and the burden on the court is too heavy."
At this time, a guard hurried in and said excitedly: "Master Bu Tang, Ding Yu and Ding Dusi are back!"
"What?"
Xia Xun was overjoyed and stood up: "Is he still alive?"
Peishitmu'er and Mengge Timur also stood up and said in unison: "Can my daughter (mother) be saved?"
Peishitmu'er is an official appointed by the imperial court, so he is certainly qualified to participate in the meeting. As for Mengge Timur, the news of his surrender with his troops has also been reported. It is estimated that when the emperor visits the north, Xia Xun will be allowed to join him.
He went to see him and granted him an official position. Now Xia Xun took advantage of the convenience of the shogunate and temporarily appointed him an official position in the shogunate, so he also participated in the discussion!
The guard's words were unclear. All he knew was that Ding Yu was rushing back to Kaiyuan City and specially asked someone to report first. Xia Xun couldn't hold himself back and immediately ended the meeting and welcomed Zhu Wenwu out of the government office. Everyone arrived outside the shogunate. After a while, the brigade
The men and horses came in force from the West Street. A bearded Japanese man galloped up to him on a tall horse, turned over and dismounted, clasped his fists and saluted, and said loudly: "General Ding Yu, please pay your respects to the Lord!"
"Ding Yu!"
Xia Xun looked him up and down before he recognized him. He couldn't help but walked up to him, punched him hard on the chest, and laughed and said: "Good boy! He's quite strong. I thought you were here."
It’s outside! Why are you dressed like this?”
Ding Yu grinned and said: "I rescued Brother Meng's mother and daughter-in-law. Because I was worried about encountering Tatar troops on the road, I changed into the clothes of a foreigner to avoid attracting too much attention."
Peishit Mu'er squeezed up and was about to ask questions when his daughter was dead and he quickly ran over and shouted happily: "Dad, my sister has been rescued!"
"oh?"
When Pei Shitmu'er and Meng Ge Timur saw what was going on, they hurriedly came forward to greet them. Ding Yu whispered to Xia Xun: "The Tatar captain took Meng Ge's mother and daughter-in-law and fled all the way. In the end, the general
They were chasing after each other, but the horse was running too fast. Who knew that Brother Meng's wife was pregnant, and she had a miscarriage due to the bumps, causing bleeding and making her body very weak. Otherwise, the general would have come back long ago.
I walked a little slower because I had to take care of her."
Xia Xun nodded and hurriedly stepped forward to greet her. Pei Shitemu'er received her daughter. When they saw her haggard face and weak body, the father and daughter couldn't help holding their heads and crying. They saw her aside and couldn't help crying sadly.
Wiping away tears, Mengge and Timur helped his mother off the horse with his own hands. Mother and son also hugged each other and cried.
Xia Xun originally wanted to step forward and say a few words of condolences to show the leadership's concern, but looking at this scene, he seemed to be unable to speak at all, so he had to stand aside and watch the show while pinching his nose.
At this time, those people dressed as herdsmen came in front of them and stood there. Some of them were dressed as shepherds, but they were actually Ding Yu's subordinates. Seeing that the ministers and a group of adults were here, they quickly saluted and paid tribute.
Some people, old and young, strong and weak, and some women stood aside and watched helplessly. Xia Xun only said that they were the tribesmen who were kidnapped together with Meng Ge's mother and did not let them go.
On the eyes.
Finally, he was the first to react. When he saw those people standing there, waiting for his introduction, he wiped his tears, walked to Xia Xun, and pointed out to him: "Master Bu Tang, these people are from the Huaguna tribe.
Arutai massacred their entire clan. These shepherds had a chance to escape death because they were grazing outside, but now they have all come to join the tribe!"
Xia Xun was very happy when he heard this. Although the people in front of him were only about a hundred people, they represented a tribe. If one more tribe joined, they would have more honor and credit. How could he not be happy? Xia Xun hurriedly stepped forward to greet them. The people of the Guna tribe publicly pushed out the eldest Amul, told Xia Xun how he had been persecuted by Arutai, and asked Xia Xun to take him in.
Xia Xun said to them with emotion: "Don't worry, I, Yang Xu, will always welcome those who come to me. Now that you have come to my place, I will take care of you properly. Once you get here, you will be safe. No more wandering around, no more worries!”
"Thank you, Lord Governor!"
Amul knelt down with tears of gratitude, and all the Huaguna tribesmen behind him also knelt down. Amul raised his hands, palms upward, and said respectfully to Xia Xun: "Thank you, kind lord, we all Travelers on a long journey have lost their tents and relatives, and have few precious things to express our sincere gratitude to you. Fortunately, we still have a lark on the grassland, Huaguna. The most beautiful flower, we would like to present it to you, Your Excellency, to express our endless gratitude and loyalty to you, Your Excellency!"
Following Amul's voice, a young girl stood up from the back of Huaguna's tribe. She was wearing a white robe embroidered with deer patterns, her slender waist was tied tightly, and she was about to break in the wind. Wearing a pure white khata, she walked towards Xia Xun.
The big braid is combed behind the back, and the glossy black hair is combed slightly with bangs on the forehead. This is the hairstyle of an unmarried girl. Married women have their hair pulled back from the forehead. It looks like , before entering the city, they had simply freshened up by the river outside the city. The dust and dust on their faces had been washed away, and there were still a few crystal drops of water hanging on the bangs on the forehead of this beautiful girl.
She walked closer to Xia Xun step by step. She had dark hair and blue eyes, her skin was like white snow reflected in the morning glow, her lips were white and her teeth were white, her nose was like a gallbladder, and her facial features were extremely bright. Such a girl could be called the Huaguna tribe. The most beautiful flowers, even if they are placed in the Jiangnan water towns where beautiful women emerge in endlessly, are the first-class happy and pleasant girls.
She walked gracefully to Xia Xun, staring at her feet with her eyes lowered. At the same time, she raised the folded Hada high and bent forward. Xia Xun had been in Liaodong for a long time and had probably figured out some of their etiquette. This is the etiquette of offering a hada to a superior person. Regardless of whether the person accepts it or not, he cannot refuse the gift, so he clasped his hands together, gestured with a smile, and stretched out his hands to receive the hada.
Suddenly, a man jumped out from the side of the road, holding a wrist-breaking knife in his hand. Taking advantage of the opportunity that Xia Xun was standing in front of the people of the Huaguna tribe, separated from many of his guards, he took three lunging steps... Then he jumped up from the kneeling Huaguna tribe to Xia Xun's side, and stabbed Xia Xun in the heart with a black tiger style.
The moment this person suddenly broke into the crowd, Xia Xun was already on alert. Seeing the person approaching the knife, he suddenly grabbed the arm of the girl in white robe, pulled her to the side, and took a step back at the same time. He leaned back slightly, and the knife was almost empty. The tip of the knife was touching his chest, but he was unable to go any further.
At the end of a powerful crossbow, it is difficult to penetrate Lu Can. It is simple to say, but one must be able to accurately judge the opponent's speed, strength, and arm length, and make fine adjustments at any time according to the opponent's pitch, making him invulnerable to any damage. This kind of martial arts is really brilliant. , the girl in white robe who was pulled aside by him couldn't help but have a flash of surprise in her eyes when she saw his outstanding skills.
Xia Xun put his hands on the man's wrist, and the sharp knife fell to the ground with a clang. Xia Xun's right hand slid up like a snake, and pinched his joint again. The man let out an ouch, and was strangled to the ground with half of his body numb. He gritted his teeth.
He glared at Xia Xun with hatred, but his vitals were restrained. He was powerless and couldn't even stand up.
The guards from all around swarmed up and protected Xia Xun in the center. The frightened civil and military personnel also came forward to greet him. After interrogation, it turned out that this man was a prisoner who escaped from the Tatar prisoners who were taken to the pass. The shogunate
To be continued...