Li Qing shook his head slightly: "Your Majesty, you are more important."
"They don't dare." Zhu Di was extremely confident, "Even if they really come for me, they can't hurt me."
Li Qing was silent.
It is true that as long as the Tatars are not smart, they will never attack Zhu Di, but... what if.
Li Qing wouldn't dare to gamble on this kind of thing.
"You are getting more and more courageous." Zhu Di cursed, but he was not really angry. He sighed: "You think I'm old too!"
"No, the emperor's rich body, how can he easily take risks?" Li Qing's answer was very official.
Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief and lay down: "There are so many tribes in the grassland and their forces are so complex that it is impossible to wipe them all out;
Yesterday we defeated Oara, and today there are Tatars. Even if we defeat Tatars today, there will definitely be new forces rising tomorrow;
Just like this green grassland, wildfires cannot burn it out, but the spring breeze blows it again!"
Li Qingshen felt the same way. Although the total population on the grassland was less than one-tenth of the Ming Dynasty, it was not easy to kill them all in this vast grassland.
"One day, we will all be one family inside and outside the customs." Li Qing was a little lost in thought, "At that time, Han and Mongolia will drink at the same table and be as close as brothers."
"A family inside and outside, drinking together at the same table..." Zhu Di was also a little lost in thought, full of yearning, longing, and regret, "It's a pity...I can't see it after all!"
After a moment of silence, Zhu Di sighed: "Human life is too short."
"Some people think it's too short, and some people think it's too long." Li Qing said softly.
"Haha..." Zhu Di smiled and sighed again.
After a while, when Zhu Di didn't speak again, Li Qing looked intently and found that he had fallen asleep.
Time is like a knife, no matter how great a hero is, he will also grow old.
Li Qing picked up the blanket and covered him, got up and got out of the sedan.
~
The fighting was not fierce. As soon as the battle started, there were already signs of ending.
The Ming army's formation was tightened, their armor was dense, and they were impregnable.
The attack momentum of the Tatars was not very strong, and they fled at the first touch. It took only two quarters of an hour before they were gone.
Obviously, he didn't intend to fight to the death.
Seeing this, Li Qing became more and more certain of Zhu Di's guess.
——The Tatars are attracting the attention of the Ming army and buying time to attack Oara.
…
early morning.
Zhu Di woke up, got out of his carriage and asked for the battle report: "How many casualties have we and the enemy had?"
Zhu Zhanji cupped his hands and said, "Our army killed 362 people, injured 590 people, killed 457 enemy people, and captured nearly 500 people."
"Were there any interrogations?" Li Qing asked.
"We have reviewed it, but we cannot guarantee the authenticity of the information." Zhu Zhanji said.
"Ignore that for now." Zhu Di waved his hand, "Zhanji, don't you want to fight? Grandpa will give you a chance this time."
Zhu Zhanji perked up and knelt down to listen to the holy words: "Please give me your instructions, Grandpa Huang."
"I will give you 20,000 elite troops and rush to support Oara immediately." Zhu Di said seriously, "As the commander-in-chief, don't let me down."
"My grandson has received the order." Zhu Zhanji's blood boiled with enthusiasm. After several Northern Expeditions, this was the first time he had taken on such a big job. "My grandson will definitely do his best to give the Tatars a head-on blow."
"Okay." Zhu Di was very pleased, "Li Qing."
"I am here." Li Qing was convinced: he is a true commander in chief of Liu Shui and an iron-clad supervisor.
"You will be the supervisor."
"...I obey the order." Li Qing reluctantly handed over his hand, "By the way, Your Majesty, what should you do here?"
"It doesn't matter." Zhu Di said nonchalantly, "The Tatars have clear goals and concentrate on attacking Oara. They don't dare to come against me until they are united and made bigger."
After a pause, "It's better if I come, I can just stretch my muscles."
Li Qing was a little hesitant, but when he thought that there were still 30,000 elite soldiers here and 100,000 later supplies, he felt that he was overthinking it.
Zhu Di is old, but his sword is still sharp, and his fighting skills are not retreating but improving. Even if the Tatars really attack in a big way, they will not get any advantage.
——
Zhu Di spent a lot of money on this rescue, 80% of the 20,000 soldiers came from the Shenji Battalion, and the 3,000 Battalion had only one request, which was to ensure that Wala's death was ensured.
Now that Wala has completely fallen into the arms of the Ming Dynasty, and due to the tea and horse trade, the garrison is fully open to the Ming Dynasty.
The Ming army had a clear goal and advanced rapidly.
"Li Jianjun, you go and investigate the situation first." Zhu Zhanji said softly, "It is far better to notify Oara in advance and attack the Tatars from both sides than to rush to support without communication."
You really don't take Uncle Qing's life as your life... Li Qing nodded helplessly: "I have no problem with that. The main thing is you. The emperor asked me to be the supervisor. The main purpose is to ensure your safety..."
"Don't worry, I'm no longer the young boy I used to be." Zhu Zhanji said, "I have a big responsibility. Even if I don't think about myself, I have to think about the 20,000 soldiers. I won't go ahead rashly."
"Sure," Li Qing said without any nonsense, "Then I'll go."
"Wait a minute." Zhu Zhanji said amusedly, "Are you going to go alone like this?"
"The official is willing to go with Li Shangshu." Not far away, Yu Qian heard the conversation between the two and turned his horse's head forward.
Li Qing refused: "No, it's easy to mess up things if there are many people. I can do it alone."
Yu Qian said: "There is a high probability that a war has started there. It is too dangerous for you, Li Shangshu, to go alone."
"That's okay." Li Qing smiled and said, "Although Wala is weak, it won't fall so quickly. I just have to be careful."
Yu Qian wanted to say something else, but Zhu Zhanji agreed first and ordered people to bring the prepared Yuanren costumes and warned: "Remember, safety first."
"Yes." Li Qing took it and said, "Let's go."
"Why don't you put it on first?"
"Aren't you going to take off your mask?"
Zhu Zhanji and Yu Qian said successively.
"I'm thin-skinned." Li Qing said perfunctorily and rode away.
Watching Li Qing gradually go away, Yu Qian frowned deeply, "The emperor's grandson, Li Shangshu... are over sixty, and it is not the right time to carry out such a dangerous mission."
Zhu Zhanji glanced at him sideways and hummed: "You know nothing about his abilities."
"..." Yu Qian had some complaints in his heart, but it was hard to get angry.
Putting aside the identity of the emperor's grandson, he was just the commander-in-chief of the army, so he was not allowed to be questioned by Yu Qian.
Zhu Zhanji had a good impression of Qian and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't worry, nothing will happen to him. People like him can't suffer losses anywhere. He is very shrewd."
…
Wala camp.
Tuo Huanchou's beard was sparse, and the Tatar's strong suppression made him breathless.
In the commander's camp, many of his subordinates, as well as Ashe Temür, all looked sad, worried about the current situation and worried about the future.
"We can't beat them. We really can't beat them." A man stood up with his upper body bare, showing off his strong muscles. "We can't hold on to the pass in front of us for much longer. Now we have no retreat and must call for help."
"Asking for help?" Tuohuan was weak, "Who are you asking for?"
Ashe Tiemur continued: "Great Ming!"
"They wish that the internal fighting on the grassland would continue, so how could they be willing to send troops to help?" Tuo Huan saw clearly, "Increasing trade is already their limit. It's not like I haven't asked for help, but the Ming Dynasty will not send troops at all.
.”
Speaking of this, there was a trace of sadness in his eyes: "To say the least, even if Ming Ting agrees, it will be too late in time, right?"
Everyone was silent.
Indeed, there is no time to rush the trip.
"Then what should we do now?" Ashe Timur asked: "If we retreat further, our cattle, sheep, women and children will have to be handed over to others. If we lose these, why will our people follow us?
I’m afraid I won’t be able to throw myself into the arms of the Tatars immediately!”
Ashe Tiemur said solemnly: "We can't retreat. If we retreat any further, there will be nothing left."
He looked at Tuo Huan sincerely and said, "If you give it a try, there is an old saying among the Han people: You will die before you survive. This is the situation we are in now. If you give it a try, there is still a glimmer of hope. If you don't give it a try, you will definitely lose."
Ulyangha was already dead in name only. If Ashe Temür wanted to restore his former glory, he could only hope that Oara would inflict heavy losses on Tatar.
Anyway, he has nothing to lose, so he might as well go for it. If Vala loses, he won't lose. If Vala can severely injure the Tatars, he will gain blood.
"Fight!" Ashi Temür said bewitchingly, "Warriors of Oara, you are all heroes on the grassland, you are all..."
Barabara...
Tuo Huan knew this guy's purpose, so naturally he wouldn't be deceived by him, but he had no other choice.
Even if he surrenders, he will not be able to do well. The Tatars can let his men go, but they will not let him go.
"The Tatars bully others too much, send an order..."
"Report——!"
A soldier came in from outside the tent: "Report: A Han man who claims to be the Minister of War of the Ming Dynasty wants to see you."
"The Minister of War of the Ming Dynasty?" Tuohuan was stunned, "What does he look like?"
"He is wearing a mask and cannot see his true face."
"Wear a mask..." Tuo Huan remembered it, and suddenly became energetic, "Please invite him in quickly, no, you all can come with me to greet him."
~
Li Qing breathed a long sigh of relief, and finally no longer had to say: I am the Minister of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty, do you understand?
When he came, he thought of everything except the language barrier.
Fortunately, he was lucky enough to meet someone who could understand Chinese, otherwise he would have had to force his way into the Wala camp.
It’s not a bad thing to have more arts than one can learn another language... Li Qing secretly decided to learn the language of the grasslands after returning home.
Not to mention being proficient, at least you must be able to communicate.
Just as he was thinking about it, he suddenly saw a crowd surging, with a group of people escorting several people over. Li Qing stopped his thoughts and looked ahead.
After a while, the guards spread out, and the leaders of the Wala tribes headed by Tuohuan rushed over in a few steps.
"It's really Li Shangshu." Tuo Huan was surprised and happy, and said with cupped hands: "Xiao Wang is polite."
"Shun Ning Wang Shaoli." Li Qing's voice was gentle and he went straight to the point: "My Ming Dynasty's great army is here, and the emperor will conquer it personally."
When Tuo Huan heard the words, it was as if he had suddenly come from hell to heaven. His soul was sublimated and he was so happy that he almost cried with joy.
"Li Shangshu, please come in." Tuohuan suppressed his excitement and joy, and was polite and respectful.
Li Qing was not polite and walked ahead without giving in.
Entered the camp.
Tuohuan and other generals bowed down and bowed down: "Your Majesty, Chuolos, Tuohuan, I sincerely wish you holy peace."
"Holy greetings." Li Qing's voice was clear and full of majesty.
Then, his tone changed and he said gently: "Everyone, please get up. The emperor was very worried when he heard that Wala was severely damaged by the Tatars. He sent elite troops to come here to help. Are we not too late?"
"It's not too late, not too late," Tuohuan shook his head, moved and excited, "I would like to thank His Majesty the Ming Emperor for his kindness."
At a time of life and death, the kindness of helping someone is undoubtedly the greatest. Tuo Huan was really moved this time.
He didn't expect that Ming Ting would really come to help him, and moreover, the emperor would do it himself!
…
ps: That’s it for today, and there will be three chapters tomorrow. I’m almost done with the things at hand, and Qinghong will return in the third update.