On the night of the tenth day of June, there were cries on both sides of the Dadu River.
There were nearly 30,000 people on the north bank. Except for a few lucky ones who escaped, most of them were wiped out.
The ministers and ministers on the south bank were also in tears and crying.
The desperate screams, curses, and cries of the men before they died were deeply reflected in everyone's minds.
Zheng Renmin looked pale, and with the help of his guards, he stumbled southward.
Duan Yizong's beard and hair turned white overnight, as if he had aged ten years.
Even Zhao Shanzheng, who was lying in the car, burst into tears and lamented after hearing this.
Some people never eat fish again.
Some people sweat when they see the fast river.
Some people have been having nightmares and will never forget the night when 30,000 troops cried in despair on the river bank.
Zheng Renmin ordered to go south, but no one stood up to object. Everyone was dejected and panicked.
Four days later, they ran south for nearly 200 miles and arrived at Da Shiyi, which is the boundary between Li and Xi states.
Here Zheng Renmin met the troops of the Gao family, Dong family, and Duan family who were crossing the river elsewhere.
Everyone was disgraced and half of them were dead.
Dong scolded Li, and the master of the cave, Yaman, changed his attitude too quickly and actually shot the soldiers and horses who came to borrow food with poisonous arrows. If the morale of the troops was not low, he would definitely settle the score with them.
Gao said that all the baggage was lost on the road, and now less than five arrows per soldier were lost, and many of their weapons were incomplete, so they were unable to fight again.
Duan didn't say anything, but couldn't help but sigh. Their soldiers lost the most. They had 4,000 soldiers when they crossed the river, but less than 4,000 came back. Everyone was frightened and could not go to the battlefield without reorganization.
What does Zheng Renmin have to say? What else can he say? He can only continue to run away with everyone.
Arrive at Yong'an City on the 17th.
The rightful place of Xia Yizhou was once here. When a hundred thousand troops marched north, the governor surrendered to Da Changhe, and then tried his best to provide food and fodder for the army. At this time, when he heard about the defeat, he actually took the opportunity to go out of the city to supervise the food and fodder management.
He ran away directly.
Zheng Renmin was too lazy to pay attention to him and continued southward. Five days later, he arrived at Sanfu City. This was the name of Weizhou in the Tang Wenzong era. There were originally two thousand defenders of the Huichuan Governor's Mansion. When they heard that Yang Qianzhen and Yang Zhao's brothers had fled back, they
Take the person away.
Zheng Renmin was furious.
Zhao Shanzheng, who has better legs and feet, secretly suggested that all the blame for this defeat should be placed on Yang.
When the people of the Gao family, Duan family, and Dong family heard this, they were silent.
Someone has to take responsibility for such a miserable defeat. It is impossible for Biao Xin to do so, and they are unwilling to do so, so why not give it to Yang? It seems reasonable.
Brothers Yang Qianzhen and Yang Zhao beat the shit out of them, causing everyone to run away. The first person responsible has not escaped, so just carry this big pot on your back.
On the 25th, the army withdrew to Shaye City, which was the natural state of Weizhou during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty.
Zheng Renmin specially went to the nearby Jingjing Temple and asked all the monks to perform rites for the soldiers who died in the Northern War.
This was Zhao Shanzheng's idea.
Duan Yizong no longer speaks much, and has already resigned once, but was rejected by Zheng Renmin.
Zhao Shanzheng was still very active and constantly gave advice to Zheng Renmin. Zheng Renmin was so confused that it was rare for anyone to give him advice, so he naturally followed the good advice.
On the 27th, because they heard that the Xia people had crossed the river in large numbers and stayed behind to guard Wangxing Pass, and the remaining soldiers at Qingxi Pass were defeated one after another, Dachang and his ministers hurried south and spent four days arriving at Yangpenngling.
Zhao Shanzheng came up with another idea and sent an envoy to the Xia Kingdom to tell Piao Xin that he was willing to give up his honorary title and to be a minister. He also offered his wealth and some women, please help him repair it.
Zheng Renmin hesitated.
But what Zhao Shanzheng said is also very reasonable: At this time of new defeat, the greatest danger is inside but not outside. No matter how vicious the Xia people are, will they still chase the two capitals? With some meaning, restore Weizhou as it was during the reign of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty.
The border (southern foot of Yangpeng Mountain) is almost the same. The Xia people will not kill Biao Xin, but the Duan family, the Yang family, the Gao family, and the Dong family may.
Zheng Renmin believed this and secretly sent his envoys northward to negotiate with the general army.
On the ninth day of July, the remnants of the retreating troops arrived at Huichuan Dudufu (Huili). Zheng Renmin looked very ugly when he saw Yang Qianzhen and Yang Zhao brothers coming out to greet them.
"General Yang fled south all the way, but there was no news. Yuan Ji thought that the general had died for his country." Zheng Renmin looked at the Yang brothers kneeling on the ground, and almost announced his guilt on the spot, but finally remembered Zhao Shanzheng's instructions, and for the time being
I tolerated it and only said a few words of ridicule.
"The general was not prepared for the sudden reinforcements from the Xia thieves, and he was so careless that I asked Piao Xin to punish him," Yang Qianzhen said.
Zheng Renmin's expression changed several times, but finally he snorted coldly and entered the city.
The 20,000 soldiers and horses who had gathered together were stationed inside and outside the city, giving them a chance to breathe.
"How many soldiers are there in the Huichuan Governor's Mansion?" After settling in the city, Zheng Renmin directly summoned the Yang brothers and asked.
When mentioning this matter, Yang Qianzhen also looked sad.
Of all the big families in the country, the Yang family suffered the greatest losses. The 20,000-strong army was wiped out in one fell swoop. Some of them were soldiers he brought from Xi'er River, and some were veterans who had been trained in Huichuan Dudu Mansion for many years. In the end, they were all wiped out.
Now, can you not feel heartache? Can you not feel hesitant?
In fact, before Zheng Renmin arrived, he had already planned to send his younger brother back to Xijing to recruit a group of strong men from his hometown to serve as the backbone. At the same time, he would recruit men from the counties and tribes under the jurisdiction of the Huichuan Governor's Mansion.
, training the new army - of course, I want the country to provide money, food, and equipment support.
"There are less than five thousand people." Yang Qianzhen answered truthfully.
Zheng Renmin felt uncomfortable after hearing this.
Although he was a little happy that Yang was deflated, it was not a good thing to be so weak.
Along the way, Yang Qianzhen had almost given up on Sanfu City, Old Xizhou (Yuexi), Shaye City, Kequan County, Kunming County and other cities, and even Yangpenngling, and fully retreated to the south of the Huichuan Dudu Mansion.
, intends to rely on the advantages of many years of operation to stick to it.
But Zheng Renmin is not optimistic about it.
The tribes in the Huichuan Dudu Mansion are also big troop senders! One hundred thousand soldiers and horses, tens of thousands of tribesmen, at least 40,000 people were drawn from here. And they suffered the heaviest losses, with barely a few people returning, not to mention every household.
Bring Xiao, that means all the elites were wiped out in one battle, and they couldn't breathe for twenty years - can the old man and the young man hold the Huichuan Governor's Mansion?
Once this place cannot be defended, Xia soldiers will go straight to Lushui Pass, forcefully cross the Lushui (Jinsha River), and rush to the Nongdong area.
Nongdong is an area under the jurisdiction of Nanzhao, and Dachanghe State is responsible for it.
During the Nanzhao period, six military envoys were appointed at key positions.
One of them was Yongchang Jiedushi, who governed Yongchang City (today's Baoshan), with a standing army of ten thousand people. There were also local Ailao people from the Wuman tribe to help, monitor Xicuan, and manage the area under his jurisdiction (today's Dehong Autonomous Prefecture and the area west of Gaoligong Mountain)
There are all kinds of messy tribes inside.
The second one was the Yinsheng Jiedu Envoy, who governed Yinsheng City (today's Jingdong) and managed various tribes in Ailao Mountain and the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River to Xishuangbanna. He was also called the Kainan Jiedu Envoy.
After Nanzhao captured Yaozhou, all the local Han people and tribes who were interested in the Tang Dynasty moved to Yongchang and Yinsheng towns.
The third was the Jiedushi of Jianchuan, who governed Tieqiao City (today's Jianchuan) and managed many tribes in its northwest - this was a border town to guard against Tibet.
The fourth one was the Tuodong Jiedu Envoy, who governed Shanchan Prefecture (now Kunming) and managed dozens of tribes such as Dong Cuan Wu Man.
The fifth was the Lishui Jiedushi, who governed Lishui City (in the Kachin State of Myanmar) and managed a large area of tribes west of today's Tengchong and northern Myanmar. The Nanzhao invaded the Pyu countries, and the plundered populations were sent to Lishui City to pan for gold.
Lishui Town was also an important military town for the defense of Tibet. Because Tibet had a vast territory and a large area of land and population at the southern foot of the Himalayas, it often attacked Nanzhao from this direction. The two sides fought in Myanmar in later generations, so they deployed heavy troops for defense.
The sixth one was the envoy of Nongdong, who governed Nongdong City (today's Yao'an) and managed most of Chuxiong Prefecture in later generations, which was the old place of Yaozhou in the Tang Dynasty. Because it is located between the two capitals, today's Nongdong has already been directly managed.
This was the division in the Nanzhao era. But after more than a hundred years of development, now, the situation has changed dramatically.
First of all, because Nanzhao originated from Dali, Kunming was a newly conquered area for them, so they established Jiedushi in the early days. But after Shanchan Prefecture became the companion capital, the current Tuodong Jiedushi had already been given the title of Meiguan.
It no longer actually manages military and civilian affairs and exists in name only.
The Nongdong Jiedushi is similar. It is located between the two capitals. After all the local Han people were moved to the southern frontier, a large number of Xicuan tribes were also moved there, so they gradually ceased to exist in name only. The person who held this post
, either a clan member or a powerful official.
In short, during the Nanzhao period, the towns of Jianchuan and Lishui defended against Tibet, and the two towns of Tuodong and Nongdong defended against the Tang Dynasty.
Nowadays, the main force defending the Northern Dynasties is the newly established Dongchuan Town, with Jianchuan Jiedu envoy assisting in the defense.
Because Tubo had collapsed, Lishui Town had no combat mission, so it turned to the south to invade and plunder the Pyu kingdoms, extending its power deep into central Myanmar - the title of "Piao Xin" of the Nanzhao monarch is clear evidence.
Nanzhao is in the same line as Dachanghe State. It implements the army system and grants land to the sergeants. Every winter, soldiers go to various places. The soldiers prepare their own equipment, grain, rice, and dried fish, conduct intensive training, and select the elite troops to form an army, giving generous rewards.
.Military discipline was stricter in the early stages. If someone was injured on the back during the battle, he would be beheaded immediately regardless of the reason, so the combat effectiveness was relatively strong.
Of course, like the Tang Dynasty, Nanzhao's military system also slowly collapsed due to frequent wars.
Recruited soldiers began to appear, but they did not turn into mercenaries as in the Tang Dynasty. Perhaps because economic conditions did not allow it, they gradually degenerated into inferior peasant soldiers for farming and fighting. The Monkey Banfu soldiers still occupied a considerable scale, and their overall combat effectiveness was compared to that of the Pavilion soldiers.
Luo Feng, the Yimouxun era has declined.
As the monarch, Zheng Renmin certainly knows what the situation in Nondong Town is like now.
Those government soldiers know how to farm, but can they fight? You don't know if they don't have the ability. Besides, most of the soldiers who can fight have been taken away and lost in the Dadu River. If the Huichuan Governor's Mansion does not defend it, Nongdong Town will not be able to defend it either.
Once the Nongdong is lost, the east and west capitals will be separated, which is very troublesome.
"Can Dongchuan Town be defended?" Zheng Renmin asked.
"We must guard it," Yang Qianzhen said.
Zheng Renmin didn't believe it. You ran so damn fast, and now you tell me that you have to defend Dongchuan Town. No one will believe you!
"It's better -" Zheng Renmin said: "Withdraw all the goods and elite troops to Nongdong Town, reorganize and form the Lushui Defense Line..."
"Piao Xin!" Yang Qianzhen was a little frightened: "If you abandon the land and fail to defend it, you may lose the morale of the army and the people."
Zheng Renmin was silent.
In fact, he had little confidence. If the Dadu River could not be defended, how could the Lushui River be defended? He was just deceiving himself.
The most important thing nowadays is time!
Defeated troops need to be reorganized, new soldiers need to be trained, places need to be appeased, people's hearts need to be sorted out, and wealth needs to be accumulated...
Give him a few months and his morale, which has hit rock bottom, can gradually recover.
Give him a year, and the new recruits can be roughly trained.
Give him two years to slowly complete the weapons and equipment.
Give him three years...
"Xiao Xin..." Just as Zheng Renmin and Yang Qianzhen were looking at each other in silence, someone hurriedly came in and reported: "There is news from Yangpenngling that the bandit general Wang Jiao has conquered the cities of Yuexi, Taideng, Shaye and other cities.
General Dong Futu was killed in the battle, Xilu County surrendered without a fight, and its forward was less than a hundred miles away from Yangpenngling."
Zheng Renmin didn't say anything, he just waved his hand to ask people to leave, and then glanced at Yang Qianzhen.
The meaning is very clear: These places are under the jurisdiction of the Jianchuan Dudufu. They have been operating for a long time, but they were invaded by the Xia people in such a furious manner. Do you still have the confidence to defend Dongchuan Town?
Yang Qianzhen was extremely confused.
Zheng Renmin was too lazy to say anything, so he only said: "Yuan will leave tomorrow. Yang Chang will think about it carefully. The country's vitality is only so low. We might as well withdraw our elite troops to the south of Lu River and reorganize before fighting."
Concluding that the Dudu's Mansion in Huichuan could not be defended, they took a big step back, gave it up, and retreated to the south bank of the Jinsha River to form a new defense line. This was actually a correct move. Zheng Renmin was dizzy for several months, but this time his head finally cleared up.
.
Of course, he still had an idea in his mind that he couldn't express aloud: to hand over the Sichuan Governor's Mansion to the Xia people and let them restore the Xizhou of the Tang Tianbao period. From now on, the two countries would be bounded by the Lu River. The Xia Lord should be satisfied.
?After all, we have opened up a new territory.
In addition, he sent envoys with humble words and polite words, and after all the good words, there was still a chance of success. As for who's interests were sacrificed in the process, he didn't care.
The Yang brothers will definitely take the blame. Wait until they lose their territory and return to Xijing, and then they will make a good deal of it.
Ming canon punishment is necessary, so that all parties after the defeat can have someone to vent their anger on.
On the tenth day of the seventh lunar month, Dachang, his ministers and more than 10,000 people left Huichuan, spent several days crossing the Lu River in batches, and entered the boundary of Nongdong Town. At this time, the Xia army's vanguard had already entered Jingkou Station.
, only ninety miles away from Huichuan Governor's Mansion.
At the same time, the envoy sent by Zheng Renmin was also led to Yazhou.
