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 order, and 400,000 Ming troops were divided into two groups for another northern expedition. 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 was tortured for only two days before he confessed like beans poured out of bamboo tubes. Before the army set off, Sun Qian and his 500 soldiers were all beheaded in sacrifice to the flag. Maybe some of them were innocent, but in the war years
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 Zuodu in Zhongshu Province, and the governor of Jeju Zhang Dakui. Their loyalty and bravery are commendable to the officials and they have set an example, and were 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. The Xu Da Army had 200,000 horse infantry 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 from Marshal Xu Da, each army and battalion passed Tongguan on their own. After passing the pass, they 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 common people. 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 constituted a unit, and one of them was 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. However, Marshal Xu Da had his own way. After the departure order, he reiterated the military discipline: March.
One less person will kill the corps commander, one less person in a 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 Da Kui stayed in the rear. He was the supervisor of the army. If any of the battalions escaped for personal gain, they would be under the jurisdiction of Da Kui.
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. 150,000 people marched towards Tongguan in a mighty manner, with carriages and horses flying all the way.
Rolling smoke and dust.
Cars are rolling, horses are rustling, pedestrians have bows and arrows at their waists, Ye Niang and his wife are walking to see each other off, the Xianyang Bridge is no longer visible in the dust, they are holding their clothes and stamping their feet to block the road and cry, the cry goes up to the sky, people passing by the road ask pedestrians, but the pedestrians are just clouds.
The journey was frequent, from Fifteenth North Fang River to Forty West Yingtian. When I left, I was still guarding the border with my head covered with white hair. When I came back, my head was white and I was still guarding the border. The border courtyard bled into sea water. Emperor Wu had not stopped thinking about opening the border.
I heard from the Han family that in the two hundred states of Shandong, thousands of villages are growing with thorns and thorns. Even if there are strong women with hoes and plows, the grass grows in the long acres without anything. Moreover, the Qin soldiers endured hard battles and were driven away like dogs and chickens. Although the elders asked,
The servant dares to express his hatred, and now this winter, the death of Guanxi has not yet come, and 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 better to have a girl. If you have a girl, you have to marry your neighbor. If you have a boy, you will be buried with the grass.
, Don’t you see, Qinghai Tou, no one has collected the ancient bones, new ghosts are annoying and old ghosts are crying, the sky is cloudy, rainy and wet, and the sound is chirping.
During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the poet Du Fu wrote a poem called "Army Chariots", which 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, they 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 troops were so fast that it only took a short time from the dispatch of troops to Xi'an Prefecture. In the past month, Marshal Xu Da was quite satisfied, but 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 must rush through Kao Kuo Timur. Children's blockade.
In 1371 AD, the armies of the Yuan and Ming dynasties faced off at Shen'eryu. Timur's now-expanded army claimed to have 200,000 elite soldiers. However, the continuous siege of the city cost tens of thousands of lives near Lanzhou alone. In terms of actual military strength, , the Yuan army has less than 160,000, and Lanzhou has been on the verge of breaking the city in the past few months. 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 now We have no more than 10,000 soldiers and no more than 100 generals in Lanzhou. To ensure nothing is lost, Sir Zhang will take a detour to Lanzhou if necessary. I will allocate you 20,000 elite troops. 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 foolproof."
Dakui thought for a while and then said: "In that case, I can just go on a short trip."
Xu Da nodded, thought for a moment and said: "You have 20,000 elite troops for three purposes. One is to protect Lanzhou, and the other 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, Kaoku Timur will be defeated in Lanzhou. There are two cities there for them to hold on. If our army is defeated, , Lanzhou can increase its troops by 20,000 and 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 our army from front to 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 army tent and went to collect 20,000 soldiers and horses.