Lanzhou was in danger, and the Ming army that had just returned was assembled on the outskirts of Yingtian, the capital. Emperor Taizu issued an edict, and 400,000 Ming troops were divided into two groups for another northern expedition. On one side, Marshal Xu Da led generals Tang He and Deng Yu to lead 200,000 troops.
Go straight to Gansu and Shaanxi via Tongguan, take the other route with Li Wenzhong as general and Feng Sheng as deputy general, and then pass through Juyongguan to reach Mobei, Liaodong.
The criminal law of the Ministry of Punishment can be described as cruel. Sun Qian only suffered for two days before he confessed as if he were pouring beans out of a bamboo tube. Before the army set off, Sun Qian and his 500 soldiers were all beheaded in sacrifice to the flag. Maybe there were innocent people among them, but in the years of war,
In troubled times, how many people are not innocent? Regardless of whether they are willing or not, as long as they are involved in right and wrong, they are right and wrong.
When Dakui was reunited with his wife and children at home, he also received an imperial edict: the crown prince's Taibao, the censor of Zhongshu Province's Zuodu, and the governor of Jeju Zhang Dakui. Their loyalty and bravery are commendable to the ministers. They are specially appointed as the commander-in-chief of the conquering army, waiting for their triumphant return.
The reward will be given again on that day.
At this time, Dakui was dumbfounded. He thought that when he returned to the capital, Empress Yingtian would first go to Hangzhou to resign from his father-in-law, and then take his family to Jezhou to take up his post. Who would have thought that Emperor Taizu would not let him go and still call him
Follow the army and listen.
This Northern Expedition was different from the past. The Ming army was divided into two groups. Xu Da had 200,000 horse infantry along the way, and 50,000 cavalry alone. In addition, there were musket battalions, artillery battalions, crossbow battalions, and pike battalions... In short
The variety and completeness of the military units is a sight to behold.
There was no formation to set out, only the command handed down by Marshal Xu Da. Each army and battalion passed Tongguan on its own. After passing the pass, it went straight north and assembled again at Xi'an Mansion.
In a time of military famine, who wants to fight? Marshal Xu Da’s order is to ask each battalion and army to set off on their own. If someone among them escapes, one person can take away ten people, and ten people can take away a hundred people.
Most of the soldiers were recruited civilians. After the imperial court promulgated the "Duo Ji Order", it became an important recruitment method for the Ming army. According to the "Duo Ji Order", three civilian households constitute a unit, and one of them is called the main household.
The remaining members of the army are subsidized households. When a regular soldier dies, the subsidized household members are compensated.
Then there are the prisoners of war over the years, surrendered troops and prisoners in prison. This type of soldiers are called "returned troops" and are particularly difficult to control. But Marshal Xu Da had his own way. After the departure order, he reiterated the military discipline: March.
One less person in the army will kill the corps commander, one less person in the hundred-man team will kill the captain, and one less person in the battalion will kill the thousand generals. In other words, as long as there is one less person in the army, it will matter from the corps commander to the thousand generals.
Xu Da personally led 50,000 elite cavalry to set off first. These 50,000 elite cavalry were all the mainstays of the Ming army, but Dakui stayed in the rear. He was the supervisor of the army. If any of the battalions escaped for personal gain, they would be under Dakui's jurisdiction.
Inside.
In the vast sea of soldiers, Da Kui's eyes darkened. In desperation, he could only gather the generals of each battalion in one place and select a few people to lead the troops to guard the brigade. Fifteen thousand people marched towards Tongguan in a mighty manner, with carriages and horses flying all the way.
Rolling smoke and dust.
Cars rattled, horses rustled, and pedestrians carried their bows and arrows at their waists. Ye Niang and his wife walked to see each other off, and Xianyang Bridge was nowhere to be seen. They pulled their clothes and stamped their feet to block the road and cry, and their cries went up to the sky. People passing by the road asked the pedestrians, but the pedestrians were just in the clouds.
Frequent travel. From Fifteenth North Fanghe River to Fortyth Western Yingtian. When I left, I was wearing a headband, but when I came back, I was still guarding the border with my head white. The border court bled into sea water, and the Emperor Wu had already opened the border. Don't you hear it?
In the two hundred prefectures of Shandong under the Han Dynasty, thousands of villages were growing with thorns and thorns. Even if there were healthy women with hoes and plows, the crops would grow on the long acres without anything. Moreover, the Qin soldiers endured hard battles and were driven away with nothing but dogs and chickens. Although the elders asked questions, they served as slaves.
Do you dare to express your hatred? And now this winter, the death of Guanxi has not yet come. The county magistrate is asking for rent urgently. Where will the rent and taxes come from? I believe that it is evil to have a boy, but it is good to have a girl. If you have a girl, you have to marry a neighbor, and a boy will be buried with the grass.
Don’t you see, in Qinghai Tou, no one has collected the ancient bones. New ghosts are annoying and old ghosts are crying, and the sky is cloudy, rainy and wet, and chirping!
During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the poet Du Fu wrote a poem called "Army Chariots". It described the suffering of the people during the conquest, but it also became a portrayal of the Ming army at this moment. The thousands of miles of Tongguan Road were traveled again and again. Dakui led 150,000 people, who traveled day and night, and finally arrived at the border of Xi'an Prefecture in January of the following year.
After the 200,000-strong army was assembled, it did not stop much. The elite cavalry cleared the way, followed closely by the soldiers and horses of each battalion, and set off again in the direction of Dingxi County. The soldiers were very fast, and it only took a short time from the dispatch of troops to Xi'an Prefecture. By the end of the month, Marshal Xu Da was quite satisfied. However, the whole army was exhausted, which was also Xu Da's biggest worry.
The reconnaissance cavalry came to report that Kaoji Timur had withdrawn his troops from Lanzhou and had garrisoned at Shen'er Valley in Dingxi. Shen'er Valley is a canyon and is the only way to Lanzhou. If you want to rush to Lanzhou, you have to rush through Kao Kuo Timur. Children's blockade.
In 1371 AD, the armies of the Yuan and Ming dynasties faced off at Shen'eryu. At this time, Timur claimed to have 200,000 elite soldiers, but the continuous siege of the city cost tens of thousands of lives near Lanzhou alone. In terms of real military strength , the Yuan army has less than 160,000. In the past few months, the city of Lanzhou has been on the verge of being destroyed. However, just when Timur was preparing to attack with all his strength, he came to report that the Ming army had arrived at the border of Xi'an. Er couldn't help but be shocked when he got the news. In desperation, he personally led 150,000 soldiers and horses to Shen'eryu to garrison, hoping to defeat the Ming army in one fell swoop while waiting for work.
At dawn, Da Kui rushed to the Chinese army's tent early. Marshal Xu Da retreated and said to Da Kui: "Lanzhou has been holding on for several months, but I don't know what will happen now. If Timur expands his territory and divides his troops to attack the city, it will be a big deal. I guess it must be bad now. The number of soldiers in Lanzhou is no more than 10,000, and the generals are no more than 100. To ensure nothing is lost, Sir Zhang will take a detour to Lanzhou if necessary. I will allocate you 20,000 elite troops, and you must arrive at Lanzhou within three days."
When Dakui heard this, he was not only surprised but said: "Marshal, if we take a detour, how can we do it because of the high mountains and dangerous roads?"
Xu Da Furan sighed: "The soldiers are making dangerous moves, and this is the only way to ensure that Lanzhou is safe."
Dakui thought for a while and then said: "In that case, I can just leave the official position for a while."
Xu Da nodded, thought for a moment and said: "You have 20,000 elite troops for three purposes. The first is to protect Lanzhou, and the second is to find out the strength of the Yuan army. If the Yuan army has not divided its forces to attack the city, the third one can be accomplished." No. When Dakui asked, Xu Da continued: "Kuoku Timur is fighting here. If our Ming army wins, Kuo Kuo Timur will be defeated in Lanzhou, where there are two cities for them to hold on. If our army is defeated, , Lanzhou can increase its troops by 20,000 and hold on to wait for reinforcements as a plan for the future."
Dakui asked in confusion: "What is the third one? I hope the marshal will make it clear."
Xu Da said slowly: "If Kuaikuo Timur is defeated, you will lead the entire army of Lanzhou to attack with our army in front and back. I think Kuaikuo Timur will not be able to escape even if he has the power to reach the sky."
Da Kui nodded in agreement, and then Xu Da and Da Kui decided on the method of interrogation and handed over the tiger talisman. Da Kui left the Chinese military tent and went to gather 20,000 soldiers and horses.
The rising sun was shining brightly, the sky was high and the clouds were clear, and the Yuan and Ming armies were at war across the ditch.
Marshal Xu Da of the Ming Army came to the front line in person, followed by Tang, Lan Yu and other generals. Looking at the Yuan army on the opposite side who was also waiting in full formation, Xu Da not only praised in secret: "Kuoku Timur is indeed the mainstay of the Yuanting. See The formation is well organized, and the soldiers are all in high spirits. They are running the army well!'
Not long after, a trumpet sounded from across the ditch, and a general from the Yuan army came out of the formation. The general of the Yuan army rode his horse to the bottom of the ditch, waving his weapons to show off his power. This was a challenge to the Ming army. Xu Da asked coldly: " Who is willing to fight?"
Pang Heihu, who was behind Tang He, stepped out of the queue and said, "I will go there eventually."
Xu Da didn't speak, just nodded. Pang Heihu hugged Xu Da, turned around and left. In a moment, he rode a war horse and danced with a sword and rushed out of the formation. As the most powerful general under Tang He, Pang Heihu was naturally the bravest of the three armies.
.After only three or five rounds of battle, General Yuan was defeated and left.
The Ming army camp was filled with cheers and cheers. Pang Heihu rode his horse and stood in the ravine in front of the two armies with his sword drawn, waiting. Not long after, another general came out of the Yuan army formation, but he fought Pang Heihu for less than thirty rounds before being killed by Pang Heihu.
Get off the horse.
Seeing how brave Pang Heihu was, Timur asked in a cold voice: "Whoever can go into battle to capture and kill this man will be rewarded with five hundred taels of gold." After hearing the five hundred taels of gold, all the generals around him were eager to try.
.
One of the generals came out and said: "General, if you are willing to go, the gold will be free of charge, and you can just reward me with a jar of good wine."
Kuoku Timur turned around to look and saw that it was his own bodyguard commander Saman. Saman was a Semu people who had followed Kuoku Timur in his southern and northern campaigns and made outstanding achievements. He was originally a righteous soldier of Kuoku Timur.
His father, Chahan Timur, was a general who was brave and strong in martial arts. Timur was extremely confident in Saman's abilities.
"Go, be careful." Timur's tone was calm. Saman cupped his fists and saluted, turned around and went down the slope. When Saman rode his horse and rushed into the ditch with a single-edged square halberd,
This fight with Pang Heihu was truly a match.
The Fang Tianji, also known as the Green Dragon Halberd, is equipped with a crescent-shaped blade near the tip of the iron spear. The techniques of the Fang Tianji are varied, including not only stabbing, stabbing, hitting, wrapping, circling, blocking, and point in spear skills
, Digging, there are also cutting, lifting, hanging, splitting, sweeping, picking, slashing, pressing, and belting in swordsmanship. What is especially difficult is that the Fang Tianji has the wonderful ability to lock people's weapons.
Pang Heihu fought with Pang Heihu for nearly a hundred rounds, and it was quite difficult. Tang He saw Pang Heihu at a disadvantage in the Ming army formation, and couldn't help but feel anxious. He walked to Marshal Xu Da and asked softly: "Marshal, can you exchange gold for generals?"
Xu Da narrowed his eyes slightly and said after a long time: "If General Tang goes into battle, will he be timid?"