As soon as the sun came up, the ground seemed to be on fire, and some gray air that looked like clouds but not clouds, or mist but not mist floated low in the air, making people feel suffocated.
On the outskirts of Awa, Myanmar, a bamboo city was erected a month ago. The more than ten thatched houses in the city were the "palace" of Emperor Yongli. And those miscellaneous thatched huts were the residences built by the officials and officials themselves with bamboo wood.
It has been more than a month since the small imperial court moved here from Jinggen. Although it is across the river from Ava City and is very close, the Burmese side has never given it a formal official reception.
When he first arrived, the Burmese authorities also gave some local products, which is what the history books call "a generous tribute." Emperor Yongli also brought some savings with him and intended to give a generous gift in return. According to the custom of the Ming Dynasty, it was condescending.
"Reward". Myanmar officials said: "I dare not salute without the king's order." Obviously, Myanmar is no longer willing to pay vassal courtesy to the exiled court. Exchange gold and silver for local products? It was still rejected by others. It is a pity that it is no longer possible.
No longer does the great empire look for feelings, but the emperor in distress looks for safety.
At this time, the small court had few military guards, with only about a hundred unarmed soldiers "guarding the palace" every day. The outside of Bamboo City was guarded by Burmese soldiers. Since the Nanming army entered Burma, they immediately withdrew their troops after receiving the order.
After returning, Yongli became the "hostage" of the Tuwang to protect himself. Just because he saw the rare goods available, the Burmese Tuwang tightened the control of internal and external news and tried every means to prevent the Southern Ming army from finding Emperor Yongli and his entourage.
However, Yongli's monarchs and ministers only wanted to be content and contented themselves. Many ministers no longer wore official uniforms. They wore short clothes and were barefoot, carrying baskets and bags. They sat on the ground and flirted with the Burmese women who were setting up stalls and doing business.
, bargaining, and having fun. There are also many officials who spend money to buy wine, get drunk and noisy, gamble and gamble wildly, and have no demeanor like a minister of the Celestial Dynasty.
In order to maintain the safety and order of the small court, Emperor Yongli decided to send officials to take turns patrolling the night. The officials who were assigned immediately took the opportunity to "light up lanterns, drink, and sing all night long." Suining Bo Puying, eunuchs Li Guotai, Yang Guoming, etc. were even more important.
The casino was opened, with people shouting and drinking day and night, and there was a lot of noise. Emperor Yongli was furious and ordered his guards in royal robes to go and demolish the casino. The ministers were very interested in gambling, so regardless of the emperor's decree, they reopened the casino in another place, and the noise remained the same.
"Having joy in suffering and having no intention of sharing the national crisis, how can we not let the Burmese people look down upon us?" Mu Tianbo sighed and shook his head repeatedly.
Some Burmese people were also quite contemptuous of the behavior of the imperial officials, and they all commented: "How many of these gentlemen are less and less like people who want to seek hegemony? How can the world be in peace if they are so playful and wanton?" Liancheng Tongshi (translation)
), as a native of Dali, was also deeply dissatisfied and said to people privately: "If I had not discarded my weapons and armor before entering the pass, I still had the ability to defend myself. If I showed up unarmed and abandoned the etiquette of the Celestial Empire, I might have perished."
It’s day!”
These words reached the ears of Mu Tianbo and others, and some people ignored them, but they made him worried, and he secretly discussed solutions with Wang Qilong, the former commander-in-chief of the King of Jin.
"I didn't use the Duke's words when I was in Jinggen, and I'm still in a dilemma today. Now that I'm driving in a tiger's den, what can I do? Sigh, ugh!" Wang Qilong smiled bitterly and spread his hands, expressing that there was nothing he could do.
Mu Tianbo looked north through the window of the simple thatched house and murmured: "Is it not chilling the hearts of the soldiers to issue repeated edicts to order the soldiers to retreat? If they are loyal and brave, the troops to greet them will become forced into the palace. I don't know that His Highness Min
What's the situation? Have you met His Highness Jin, or--"
Wang Qilong was silent for a moment and said: "His Royal Highness Min insisted on entering Yunnan, but he had foresight. The Duke did not see that all the men and horses who came by land were separated from their wives and children, their family property was wiped out, and many people died."
Led by Pan Shirong, the Ming Dynasty officials and soldiers who traveled south by land arrived at the other side of the river from Awa City in Burma in March. Due to the large number of people and horses, the king of Burma was uneasy. So he sent soldiers to surround and forcibly surrounded these Ming Dynasty soldiers.
Personnel, regardless of gender, old or young, were placed in each nearby villager's house to take care of them. One person per family was prohibited from interacting with each other. These Nanming people were separated from their wives and children in an instant, their family property was wiped out, and they lost their personal freedom. Many of them could not bear the humiliation and were angry.
And committed suicide.
Mu Tianbo's eyes flashed for a moment, then he stood up suddenly and said with emotion: "While the Burmese are not yet in custody, why not fight to the death, organize daring warriors to kill the treacherous officials, and protect the prince to break through and defect to the Jin and Gong vassals."
Wang Qilong was taken aback, and after a long while he said calmly: "The Duke's plan is too complicated. Why not first tell Ma Jixiang about the matter of protecting the crown prince's return to the country, and then make further arguments."
Mu Tianbo also felt that what he said was too harsh, and Wang Qilong was frightened. He couldn't help but smile and said: "Yes, Ma Jixiang is in charge of Jin Yiwei, so he should discuss it with him first."
How could Wang Qilong not know who the traitor in Mu Tianbo's words was referring to? Ma Jixiang thought he was the leader of the traitor, but at this time he could only pretend to be confused and said with a smile: "The eunuch Li Guotai is really a traitor, and I have done something for a long time."
The country is determined to eradicate traitors. Haha, haha."
"We still need detailed planning before we can take action." Mu Tianbo saw Wang Qilong pushing eunuch Li Guotai out, and knowing his timidity and doubts, he softened his tone, "Breaking through the siege into Yunnan is a long journey, and it is difficult to make the trip without a guide!"
"That's right, that's right." Seeing that there was room for relaxation, Wang Qilong nodded in agreement, "If we don't plan carefully, we will put the prince in danger, and we will never be able to redeem ourselves."
Mu Tianbo agreed casually, but sighed in his heart. It seems that people can't make up their mind until the critical moment. But by the time the Myanmar side sends troops to strictly guard it, I'm afraid the opportunity has passed.
………………
The terrible rainy season in the subtropics does not rain all the time, and there are no sunny days at all. Instead, it mostly shows the power of God with the raging thunderstorms. It was not just the clearing of the sky that prompted Zhu Yongxing to finally make up his mind.
It rained and was so cold that I shivered, but when the sun came out, it was as hot as a dog day. Zhu Yongxing gently covered his nose. Moisture, corpse odor and other complex smells filled the air. Maggots, ants and mosquitoes were crawling around on the top of the mountain.
You can see them everywhere, which is disgusting. I thought that throwing the corpses of Qing soldiers down the hillside would temporarily isolate the source of the plague, but it seems that I thought it was simple.
Fortunately, I had already asked the soldiers of the Ming army to tie their leggings. This simple little thing can not only act as boots to prevent the bites of grasshoppers and mountain insects; it can also help in marching and prevent swelling and pain caused by blood accumulation; and even
It can be used as a bandage to treat injuries.
The new King Zhao Bai Wenxuan once asked Ying to supervise the battle and wanted Zhu Yongxing to go to the rear, but Zhu Yongxing politely refused and arranged for him to garrison at the Longchuan River Ferry to ensure a safe retreat. But now, Bai Wenxuan came overnight, just before Zhu Yongxing
around.
Bai Wenxuan came here because he was worried about Zhu Yongxing's safety, but also a little worried about the battle situation on the front line. He also brought the latest situation in Tengchong. Maybe he had not made up his mind when he came, but at Nanzhai Gongfang, Bai Wenxuan
Shocked by the cruelty of the battlefield, he decided to lean towards the backup plan planned by Zhu Yongxing.