After entering Shaanxi-Gansu, Zhao Junchen just focused on rushing on his way, unlike Mao Jiadong who always paid attention to the surrounding topography.
Therefore, although Zhao Junchen adopted Mao Jiadong's suggestion, he did not know what the earth mountain Mao Jiadong mentioned was like, nor whether this earth mountain was conducive to defense.
Now, after running all the way to the foot of Tushan, Zhao Junchen raised his head and looked at the terrain of Tushan. He couldn't help but feel happy, feeling that his trust in Mao Jiadong was not wrong!
This earthen mountain is about thirty feet high. The top of the mountain is bald and wide enough to station thousands of troops. The mountainside in the southeast is steep and cliffs are difficult to climb. The mountainside in the northwest is steep and not conducive to riding and sprinting. The entire mountain is bare.
There are only a dozen dwarf trees, so there is no need to worry about the Mongols attacking with fire...
All in all, although Zhao Junchen did not understand military affairs, he could see at a glance the convenience and benefits of this mountain in defense. For a large battle, this humble mountain has no value, but if it is a small battle
In a large-scale offensive and defensive battle, this small mountain of earth can allow the defending side to take advantage!
Especially when the opponent is only the Mongolian cavalry, as Zhang Shengde commented, the Mongols are good at cavalry but not good at infantry fighting, good at charging but not good at attacking fortresses. As long as they occupy this mountain first, the Mongols can only use their own strength.
A short attack is a long way to go.
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen became more confident and loudly announced his order: "Everyone go up the mountain as soon as possible to establish a defense line..."
At this time, the Mongolian cavalry was in hot pursuit. There was only three to five miles away from Zhao Junchen's team, and they could catch up in an instant, so Zhao Junchen's tone was very urgent.
However, Zhao Junchen was only halfway through his order when he was interrupted by Mao Jiadong.
"Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, we cannot let everyone go up the mountain to defend!"
Zhao Junchen was stunned and asked: "Why?"
Mao Jiadong also explained in a quick voice: "The Mongols are chasing very fast. This mountain is difficult to ride. Maybe we have just reached the top of the mountain and haven't had time to build a defense line. The Mongols will chase them to the foot of the mountain. Then it will be very difficult."
Passive! In addition, this earthen mountain is too small. The top of the mountain is only enough for more than a thousand people to stand on it. If five or six hundred of us go up together, there will be no room to hide when the Mongols shoot arrows... Also, blind defense is not possible
Not advisable! So we’d better detach a group of cavalry to fight with the Mongols and constantly harass them, firstly to buy time, secondly to contain the Mongolian attack force, and thirdly to respond to each other, just in case...
…”
Obviously, Mao Jiadong's reasons are very good.
But before Mao Jiadong finished his explanation, he was also interrupted by Zhao Junchen!
Zhao Junchen said categorically: "I believe in your judgment! The situation is urgent now. The Mongols will catch up soon. You don't need to elaborate on the reasons. If you say you want to divide the troops, then divide the troops! Now you only need to tell me two points.
That’s good! First, how many people are needed for this cavalry? Second, who should lead this cavalry?”
Seeing how easily Zhao Junchen trusted his own judgment on matters related to his own life and death, Mao Jiadong's eyes flashed with emotion.
During this period of time, Zhao Junchen has repeatedly tried to buy Mao Jiadong for his own use, promising countless benefits, but Mao Jiadong has always been unmoved. But now that Zhao Junchen is in a weak position and needs help from Mao Jiadong, Mao Jiadong has no regard for Zhao Junchen's
On the contrary, my goodwill has increased a lot.
After Mao Jiadong frowned and thought for a moment, he replied: "This cavalry needs to constantly harass and entangle the Mongols, but cannot be swallowed up by the Mongols, so it must be all elites! And the number cannot be small! At least two hundred people are needed.
!As for the person to lead the troops, Beizhi believes that he is the most suitable!... However, if Beizhi is responsible for leading this cavalry, no one will be able to protect Mr. Zhao..."
Hearing this, Zhao Junchen frowned, turned to Shaanxi Governor Zhang Shengde and asked: "Among the more than two hundred guards under Governor Zhang, are there any people who are familiar with military strategy and tactics?"
Zhang Shengde shook his head and said: "This cavalry is a guard borrowed by the official from Guyuan Military Town. Wang Baihu, who leads the troops, is a man who knows soldiers, but he is waiting at the station and has not gone with me.
Come on, except for this Wang Baihu, no one has the talent to lead an army."
After hearing what Zhang Shengde said, Zhao Junchen's brows furrowed even more.
There are only three generals around Zhao Junchen. One is Qianhu Hong Gaogong, the Jinyiwei. This man is just an ordinary dandy. He is brave in internal fighting and timid in public battles, but he is not enough to entrust him with a big task! The other is Niu Shun, a Baihu who leads the Shanxi cavalry.
, but this man is also a playboy, the illegitimate son of Niu Lu, the commander-in-chief of Shanxi Province. Niu Lu asked him to lead the troops to escort Zhao Junchen in order to close the relationship between the two parties. After Zhao Junchen's observation, this man was not brave enough, and he was also
Not enough to entrust the heavy responsibility! Apart from these two dudes, only Mao Jiadong, a member of the Jinyiwei Baihu family, is left!
Mao Jiadong is indeed courageous and capable, but he does not have the ability to clone himself. If he is allowed to lead separate troops to harass the Mongols, there will be no one to direct the offensive and defensive battles on Tushan Mountain. There may be loopholes that allow the Mongols to easily break through! But if he is allowed to
He stayed with Zhao Junchen to organize defense, but there was no one to lead the separate troops to harass the Mongols. This separate army might be swallowed up by the Mongols!
Just when Zhao Junchen was hesitating, Mao Jiadong suddenly thought of something and said: "Your Majesty, regarding the layout and command of Tushan's defense line, there is a suitable candidate for this humble position."
Zhao Junchen quickly asked: "Who?"
Mao Jiadong pointed to a knight behind him and said: "That's Zhao Dali! The military fortress he used to belong to was located on the border of the imperial court, close to the Mongolian grassland, and encountered some offensive and defensive battles every year. I had discussed military strategy with him in my humble position, and I knew this
He is brave and experienced, so it is more appropriate for him to be responsible for the defense of the mountain than to take a humble position, because the latter is better at leading cavalry and not good at defense."
"Zhao Dali?"
After hearing Mao Jiadong's suggestion, Zhao Junchen was stunned again!
In Shanxi, after Zhao Dali recovered his companions and relatives, he was grateful for Zhao Junchen's kindness and was actively recruited by Zhao Junchen, so he successfully became Zhao Junchen's retainer. However, Zhao Dali usually interacted with the rest of Zhao Junchen's family.
The servants and followers did not have much contact, but often followed Mao Jiadong. Mao Jiadong also admired Zhao Dali very much and often taught Zhao Dali some knowledge of military strategy and tactics.
However, Zhao Junchen originally only regarded Zhao Dali as a brave and reliable servant guard, but he did not expect that Mao Jiadong valued Zhao Dali so much and actually believed that Zhao Dali had the ability to command the defense line!
Seeing Zhao Junchen's doubts, Mao Jiadong said again: "Don't worry, Imperial Envoy. For such a small-scale defense, Zhao Dali's experience and vision and emergency judgment are better than those of a humble position! And this person is a brave person, enough
Entrusted with a heavy responsibility!"
On the other side, after Zhao Dali heard Mao Jiadong's recommendation, he also showed determination and assured Zhao Junchen: "Don't worry, Mr. Zhao, I will fight to the death to protect your safety!"
Seeing that the Mongolian pursuers were getting closer and closer, Zhao Junchen gritted his teeth and said, "In this case, I will believe you just once!"
Then, Zhao Junchen made the final decision and said in a solemn voice: "Mao Baihu led 30 cavalrymen under his command and more than 200 Shaanxi cavalrymen as separate troops, responsible for harassment and delay. The remaining people all went up the mountain for defense.
Zhao Dali is responsible for the specific matters of defense! In addition, if one hundred more horses are allocated to Mao Baihu, the defense on the mountain does not require too many horses anyway. Mao Baihu can have more self-protection with these horses.
!”
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, Mao Jiadong and Zhao Dali both loudly accepted the order.
At the same time, after Mao Jiadong heard Zhao Junchen's order, he felt even more grateful.
Zhao Junchen not only completely followed Mao Jiadong's advice, but also temporarily allocated more people to Mao Jiadong! For Mao Jiadong, this kind of trust is far more precious than the benefits Zhao Junchen once promised! It is also easier for Mao Jiadong to let Mao Jiadong
Admire!
On the other side, Shaanxi Governor Zhang Shengde's expression changed when he saw that Zhao Junchen had directly deprived his own bodyguards of the command authority without asking for his opinion.
But in the end, Zhang Shengde did not have any doubts. Instead, he immediately followed Zhao Junchen's instructions and handed over all 200 cavalrymen under his command to Mao Jiadong.
Zhang Shengde knew very well that the sudden attack by the Mongolian cavalry was so strange. Zhao Junchen suspected that some Shaanxi-Gansu officials were secretly promoting it, and Zhang Shengde himself also fell within the scope of Zhao Junchen's suspicion, so Zhao Junchen deprived Zhang Sheng.
Germany’s military power is also a matter of course!
In fact, Zhao Junchen not only doubted Zhang Shengde, but also did not trust the two hundred cavalry under Zhang Shengde's command. Therefore, Mao Jiadong's suggestion also played into Zhao Junchen's wishes in a way, giving Zhao Junchen a reason to drive away the Shaanxi cavalry.
, otherwise no one knows whether these Shaanxi cavalry will defect in battle!
After the two teams were assigned, Zhao Junchen shouted to everyone: "Soldiers, this is the territory of the Ming Dynasty. The opponent is just more than a thousand Mongolian cavalry. Our reinforcements will arrive at any time! As long as everyone is determined and bravely joins the battle, the Mongols will
There is absolutely nothing anyone can do to us! The longer the delay, the greater our chances of winning!
The imperial envoy hereby announces that as long as everyone can resist the attack of the Mongolian cavalry, not only will everyone’s military merit be increased by one, but everyone will also be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver! If there are additional military merits, the silver reward will be even higher
More! If someone unfortunately dies in battle, this imperial envoy will be responsible for supporting his family!"
Silver, money, wealth!
This is the only thing Zhao Junchen can come up with at the moment!
But I have to say that the temptation of money is indeed great.
After seeing the sudden attack of the Mongols, most people were originally panicked, but now after hearing Zhao Junchen's rewards and guarantees, everyone's morale was boosted!
"Must win!"
Under the leadership of Mao Jiadong, everyone shouted loudly.