"Brother Ma, that's it..." Yuan Chonghuan sighed, "Gao Di's order has been issued, and there is no way to save the day. It's just a pity that I have made a good Ming Dynasty, and since then..."
"Then what do General Yuan think?"
Yuan Chonghuan said: "I don't want to give up Ningyuan. If Ningyuan is really going to be lost, Shanhaiguan will be lost sooner or later. Brother Ma, it's not easy for your father and brother to fight against the Jurchens with me. I don't think you should stay here anymore. As soon as possible."
Go back to the capital. With you in the capital, our people at the border will at least have food and wages to see."
Ma Xiaoquan nodded. Yuan Chonghuan was right. When he was in the capital, whether he paid out of his own pocket or petitioned the emperor, he could at least continue to deliver food and wages to Liaodong. Recently, he was in Liaodong, and the food and wages in the capital immediately increased.
Can't keep up.
"Let's see..." Ma Xiaoquan thought for a while and said, "If I go back now, I'm afraid it won't be peaceful along the way. Now that things have come to this, I will go with you to Ningyuan to stay for a while. My parents and brothers
It’s all there.”
"Brother Ma, you...are you really going to Ningyuan?"
Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "I am still a staff officer after all. Although I don't have the ability to lead troops in battles, I am still capable of planning, instigating and taking action."
"Okay, Brother Ma's words moved me, Yuan, deeply, so I, Yuan, can't help but say that as long as I am here, Ning Yuan will never be lost."
...
That night, Ma Xiaoquan led his two wives and set off for Ningyuan with Yuan Chonghuan.
After arriving in Ningyuan, Ma Mu asked in surprise when she saw Ma Xiaoquan: "Quan'er, didn't you go to the capital? Why are you here in Ningyuan again?"
Ma Xiaoquan smiled and said: "Mom, I am one of Liaodong's staff members no matter what. As for grandma, I thought about it again. She is alone, and Fangfang and Lisa are taking care of her, so I don't plan to go back first.
.”
"Well, that's fine, but Ningyuan is so dangerous and you run here..."
Yuan Chonghuan smiled and said: "Haha, Brother Ma also cares about Ningyuan, so he followed me to fight against the Jurchen army."
Ma Mu gave Yuan Chonghuan a blank look and didn't give him any face. Yuan Chonghuan also knew Ma Mu's temper and laughed dryly.
"Yuan Chonghuan, I don't care, if anything happens to my son, I will never end it with you!"
Yuan Chonghuan smiled awkwardly and said: "Sister Yun, don't worry, I will definitely protect Brother Ma."
"That's pretty much it~ Now that we're here, why don't we just eat some food here? It's already so late. If you guys rushed back all night, you must not have eaten anything. My family went out on patrol and I guess it will take an hour to come back."
Ma Xiaoquan said: "No wonder I didn't see my father, second brother and third brother when I came back."
...
The next day, Ma Xiaoquan got up early and came to the Ningyuan Assembly Hall to find Yuan Chonghuan.
Ma Ruiqing and Ma Yuan, Ma Cheng's parents, arrived before Ma Xiaoquan. When they saw Ma Xiaoquan, the three of them were shocked.
When they came back late yesterday, Ma's mother had already gone to bed, and she got up early in the morning, but Ma's mother hadn't gotten up yet, so the three of them didn't know that Ma Xiaoquan was here.
Seeing Ma Xiaoquan, Ma Yuan stepped forward and hugged him and said, "Little fourth son, you had a cramp and came here. Didn't you go back to the capital?"
Ma Xiaoquan smiled and lied: "I went to Shanhaiguan first and received a secret edict from the emperor, telling me that I wanted to supervise the war here, so I can't go back for the time being. It's a pity that Gaudi actually ordered the withdrawal of troops from various strongholds outside the pass. This
It makes me very angry, but fortunately, General Yuan understands the righteousness and will defend Ningyuan to the death. My parents, brother and sister-in-law are all here, so I still came."
Ma Ruiqing nodded: "In that case, then just stay. It will be the New Year in a few months, and you haven't spent the New Year here, have you?"
Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "Yeah~"
"Okay, okay, then we'll spend this year here~" Ma Yuan patted Ma Xiaoquan's shoulder heavily and said.
...
In the center of the meeting hall was a small sand table, covered with small flags of various colors. Ma Xiaoquan looked close to the sand table, raised his head and asked: "From the sand table, it seems that the Jurchen Army is still some distance away from us, but
On my way to Shanhaiguan, I met refugees several times."
Yuan Chonghuan said: "Ningyuan has also accepted a lot of refugees recently."
Ma Chengdao: "Yesterday we went on patrol and found several groups of refugees. I don't know where they heard the news, saying that troops were withdrawing from the Ningyuan stronghold. Early this morning, some residents here in Ningyuan began to move."
Ma Xiaoquan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Moving? Where to move? They have basically lived here for generations, where else can they move?"
Yuan Chonghuan dragged his chin and said: "Let's not talk about the refugees for now. Please take a look..." Yuan Chonghuan pointed to two places on the sand table and said, "This is the Big and Small Ling River...
..This is Jinzhou, and these two locations are currently empty strongholds, but according to reports from spies, no Jurchens have been found to have invaded. What do you think is going on?"
Ma Ruiqing thought for a while and said: "From what I can see, Nurhaci seems to be waiting for something. With his mind and intelligence capabilities, he should have already known the order given by Gao Di."
"Yes~" Yuan Chonghuan nodded, "I thought so too. Gao Di gave the order to retreat, which undoubtedly gave Nurhaci a reminder that no one can defeat the enemy without fighting. Nurhaci must have thought of this in his mind.
.”
"So, in this case, will Nurhaci think that Ningyuan is also empty?" Ma Xiaoquan asked.
Yuan Chonghuan nodded: "It is possible, or in other words, even if Nurhachi knew that Ningyuan had not withdrawn his troops, he would not care. After all, Ningyuan's soldiers were only 10,000. If he sent troops, the number would be at least three times ours.
If we use more to defeat less, according to Nurhaci’s judgment, we will definitely win.”
Ma Xiaoquan thought for a while and said: "So, Ning Yuan is safe for the time being."
Yuan Chonghuan smiled bitterly and said: "Just these few months, haha..."
"So since we have to defend Ningyuan, should we strengthen the defenses next?"
Yuan Chonghuan sighed: "It seems that this is the only way~"
...
After the meeting, Ma Xiaoquan followed Ma's father and brother back to their residence.
Father Ma knew Ma Xiaoquan's true identity. After thinking about it, he separated Ma Yuan and Ma Cheng, leaving only him and Ma Xiaoquan in the room.
Ma's father looked at Ma Xiaoquan and said: "The first generation head of the family, Ningyuan is in danger. I heard from Meiyun (Ma's father's name to Ma's mother) that you want to return to the capital? Why are you here in Ningyuan again?"
