"The common people are none other than Ma Fang, see the Marquis."
Ma Fang's hands were tied, but he knelt down on one knee simply.
He only knew that he was a marquis, but he didn't know his name.
Guo Xun enthusiastically stepped forward to help him up: "Get up. Let's go, His Majesty wants to see you."
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty wants to see the common people?"
Ma Fang was confused. He thought Guo Xun was here to deal with him.
As a Marquis of the Ming Dynasty, he must be one of the commanders of the Northern Army. Ma Fang brought some information. Whether it was to determine the authenticity of his identity, his sincerity of submission, or to learn about the military situation of the Northern Lu, the Marquis was enough.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived at Daming's camp, the emperor wanted to see him in person.
The reason why Guo Xun was so enthusiastic was because the emperor looked at him differently.
For some reason, he thought of the emperor asking Li Quanli to take Li Yuan there in person.
Therefore, he first personally untied Ma Fang, saying that he would not be disrespectful when driving.
As for the emperor's safety, Ma Fang was bare-handed. How heavily guarded were he inside and outside the palace? Lu Bing was always at his side with a sword, and Guo Xun was always with Ma Fang.
Along the way, Guo Xun first asked about Ma Fang's experience and the information from Anda.
"You really convinced all the tribes..." Guo Xun looked at Ma Fang with some uncertainty in his eyes, "You said you know the location of the pastures of more than ten tribes? Do you know the right way?"
"The grassroots people have been working with them since they were eight years old. They have nothing else to think about. They focus on training their bows and horses and paying attention to their fighting methods." Ma Fang said with certainty, "Although they were only ordered to conquer some tribes that did not want to surrender, the grassroots people repeatedly
In asking for a fight, the Tatars lost less than half of their territory on the left wing."
"Then you are here to lead the way for Master Wang?"
"The common people thought, if they don't come, they will have to fight against the Ming army in the future. The common people are willing to kill the Tatars, but they are not willing to kill the Ming army. On the Tatar side, the captive chiefs always say that after the snow melts, we will
If you know how to fight, the common people will want to come and serve you."
Guo Xun did not comment, but instead reminded him: "If you are sincere in returning south, don't say this in front of His Majesty. Just talk about how I conquered the tribes."
"Master Hou, why is this?" Ma Fang asked first, and then understood, "Are you worried that ordinary people are doing things carefully?"
"I see how brave you are in your conversation, and I know that you are open-minded." Guo Xun expressed his first impression, "But you came from the north after all, so don't expect to be reused right now. Besides, the Tatars are unpredictable in their migration, and the snow is
Once it is transformed, it will no longer be where it was last autumn and winter. Those messages are useless."
"...The common people thank the Marquis for the advice." Ma Fang was silent for a moment and then said, "The common people do not ask for important positions. They are willing to obey orders and do anything, as long as they can kill the Tatars."
"That's good."
Even from Guo Xun's own point of view, he would not fully believe Ma Fang's words now, so naturally other civil servants and generals in the palace would also think so.
How important is the Northern Expedition? What if it is really An Da's treacherous plot to lead the Ming army into a trap?
Guo Xun just formed a good relationship with Ma Fang first because the emperor looked at him differently.
Whether what he said is true or false does not affect the current decision-making. It is also true that the northern barbarians will migrate according to the weather. The Ming army will next clear out the northern barbarians in a wider grassland, and the problem mentioned by the emperor still exists.
The size and combat power of the Ming army's cavalry were much inferior to those of the Beilu. As long as the Beilu were determined to avoid fighting and the reconnaissance cavalry detected the Ming army, they would just avoid it.
Now that the Ming army has achieved great victories in Hetao and Daning, they cannot lure the enemy, so they can only forcefully attack them.
Arriving at the palace, Ma Fang knelt down and worshiped the emperor. As expected, he only talked about his own experience, and then waited for the emperor to ask questions.
Zhu Houcong looked at Ma Fang, who was seventeen years old, and was sure it was him.
"Tell me first how Anda seized the position of Great Khan last year and conquered other tribes."
Ma Fang was there to speak, and the ministers still had the patience to listen to what he had to say.
After Zhu Houcong asked the question, he was actually thinking about something else.
He believed that Ma Fang was more familiar with the grassland tribes, and later there were prisoners from Gunbilik.
But the problem still exists. The Ming Dynasty's cavalry is not strong enough. Even if you can find the opponent's tribe or the main cavalry force, if you want to kill a sufficient number of Tatars, you must wait until the Ming Dynasty's much less mobile infantry comes together.
If they are just driven away temporarily, it is meaningless. Without the ability to eliminate the living forces, it is impossible for the Ming Dynasty to garrison everywhere in the vast grassland.
But there still has to be a fight.
Even if Zhu Houcong thought that it would be enough to consolidate the victory for the time being, the soldiers in the Northern Expedition camp were ready to make a move. After hearing the news from Ma Fang that Man Shou Tu was going to plunder the Jurchens, Li Quanli and Guo Xun wanted to fight.
The imperial expedition to the north also requires a symbolic victory in the direction of the main force.
"That is to say, Anda's sweat tent is now in the south of Luqu River, southeast of Kendehan Mountain?" Li Quanli's eyes lit up, "I'm so brave! When Man Shou Tu went to plunder the Jurchens, he actually led the main force
It's so far away. Your Majesty, as long as we block it from the other side of Yu'erhai, we will definitely gain something!"
"No!" Chen Jiuchou said immediately, "Your Majesty, if the army goes north rashly, I will lead the army to intercept the king's army from west to east! The Khan's tent has always been not far to the north of Kaiping, and it has not yet reached the Yu'er Sea. This time
The place Ma Fang mentioned is already the Khalkha garrison, how can I be there? This person has ulterior motives, your Majesty cannot trust him easily!"
There was a sudden commotion in the palace, and Ma Fang was at a loss.
This Luqu River is also recorded in the Ming Dynasty classics. In the eighth year of Yongle, Zhu Di personally conquered the upper reaches of the Luqu River and renamed it Yinma River. In the same year, he continued to follow the river to the lower reaches of Yuerhai and Kuoluanhaizi. Hongwu
In the twenty-first year, Lan Yu destroyed the royal court of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in the area of Yuerhai.
This vast Luanhaizi was later called Hulun Lake. The lower reaches of the Luqu River and the area around the two lakes are the Hulunbuir Prairie.
Logically speaking, it would be better for the Khan Court to retreat three to five hundred miles north to avoid the front of the army. In fact, it would be better to run to the Hulunbuir Prairie area.
But now I want to integrate the Mongolian tribes and set up the Khan tent closer to Khalkha, which is also reasonable.
The place Ma Fang was talking about was once the original center of the Mongolian Khanate. It was a little south of the area formerly known as Great Or'er by Genghis Khan. The entire old land was located between the Luqu River and the Onan River, with water sources and pastures.
Yes. To the northwest is a mountain plateau represented by Kent Khan Mountain.
If the Ming army does not come, Anda can not only suppress Khalkha, but also control the vast Hulunbuir grassland to the east. If the Ming army comes, they can retreat into Kent Khan Mountain or even hide in the Lake Baikal area to the northwest.
What can be done to him?
Or go further north to the middle and lower reaches of the Onan River, which is the northernmost part of Zhu Di's footprints - the area known as the area where Hu Yuan was killed. And Zhu Di's life also came to an end there.
There is now a straight line distance of more than a thousand miles between Kaiping where Zhu Houcong is located and the current residence of the Anda Khan Court named Wen'erhan. And Haramanglai where his forward guard cavalry is located, which is recorded in Ming classics.
Guangwu Town in the middle is also six to seven hundred miles away.
Zhu Houcong looked down at the map on the case. Naturally, the map was not very detailed.
Today, Kaiping is the northernmost line. In the north, in addition to the Xilin Gol grassland, which is one or two hundred miles wide and runs diagonally from northeast to southwest, and then to where the original Khan tent was, there is also a desert called Dashawo in the middle.
Now that I have moved farther away, it seems that I am vaguely bounded by the big sand nest.
If the Ming Dynasty's appetite only stopped here, then by hoarding a large tribe in Guangwu Town, he could also vaguely control the fertile grasslands to the north and northeast of Dashawo where the original sweat tents were.
Further north, between the Ququ River and the Onan River, the Hulunbuir Prairie in the fishing area is also good enough for rest and recuperation.
If the Ming Dynasty continued to advance north to attack the main force of the Khan Court, Dashawo would be the first hurdle, and Haramanglai would be the second hurdle. If Anda continued to retreat north, there would still be the Luqu River and Kent Khan Mountain.
It has depth to the east, west, and north.
This is the buffer zone between Dashawo and Guangwu Town.
There were still quarrels in the palace, and Zhu Houcong said: "Okay. This Ma Fang is actually a Han citizen. He has not forgotten his origin and is devoted to Nantou. I believe him."
Many important ministers had heard that he was very suspicious, and Ma Fang, who was worried, burst into tears.
The emperor believed in him, so what else could he say?
But Zhu Houcong also said: "If I retreat a thousand miles away, even if the snow melts, I'm afraid I won't be able to win. This man is very determined. Now that the Hetao has been restored and the Ming Dynasty troops are approaching, I have got what he wanted.
The result was that the Hetao was won so quickly that it was not easy to eliminate the Northern invasion in one fell swoop."
Zhang Bi, Chen Jiuchou and others breathed a sigh of relief.
The Ming Dynasty had too many places to digest, and the long-lasting Northern Expedition with little effect was too great a burden for the Ming Dynasty.
"But now that the Northern Expedition Army has arrived, it's time to make plans for the future." Zhu Houcong added, "It will set off after February. Generals from Datong will go west to Dalu City and Shajing; generals from Xuanfu and Jizhou will go to the north.
Advancing to the Yingchang area, the generals of the capital camp marched across Dashawo and advanced to Xuanshipo and Saihan Mountain."
Guo Xun and Li Quanli felt disappointed.
With such a decision now, it will be difficult to have a war. I have already traveled so far, and the emperor's arrangement is just a re-drawing of the boundaries.
Yingchang once served as the Royal Court of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, and later set up Yingchang Guards, which restored the old boundaries. Xuanshipo was one of the starting points for Taizong's several northern expeditions, and it was regarded as a bridgehead to peer into the grassland. As for Shajing, answer
Lucheng is just a frontier outpost at the eastern foot of Yinshan Mountain on the way to Datong and Xuanfu.
Zhu Houcong looked at them and laughed: "To control this area, there is no need for the main force to go there. In March, the three main forces went to Guangwu Town and approached the Khan Court. If I still want to avoid the battle, at least he will not be so lucky this year.
Enjoy the pastures in the south and let him urinate in sweat, and your prestige will be greatly lost. Whether he fights or not, he will make a mark on the land of Genghis Khan's king!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" At this time, Guo Xun and Li Quanli were happy again.
After all, I wanted to go to Yinma River for a walk, at least like Taizong and Lan Yu in the past, I arrived in that area.
Zhang Bi and Chen Jiuchou have no objection to this. As long as they don't want to take down Beilu's lair rashly and push forward slowly, there will be no problem.
And this can be regarded as a conspiracy. From now on, we can just make some moves in spring and summer so that the Tatars can't rest and recuperate in the southern pastures where the water and grass are more abundant.
In a long-term plan, we must solve the problem that the Ming Dynasty's cavalry is not large enough and not elite enough.
How to solve it?
Qun Mujian, Duoyan's three tribes, and the upcoming Gunbilik.
But Zhu Houcong knew that he needed a general who was good at leading cavalry in battle.
"Hundred households?" Guo Xun looked at the emperor in surprise, "Your Majesty, we have to find out whether what Ma Fang said is true or not..."
"If you should go to investigate, go and investigate without delay." Zhu Houcong looked at him meaningfully, "You watch and use it at the same time. Let him serve first among the cavalry of the 3,000 battalion. This is a small thing for you.
Can it be done? I can grant him a hundred households, and I am willing to give him a chance."
"...I understand."
Zhu Houcong decided to gather the main force to go to the Anda Khan Court. Not only was the Northern Expedition army forced to launch an arrow, but it also wanted to give Ma Fang a chance to stand out.
From Nantou, Mongolia, he must have the opportunity to prove himself. In this way, Zhu Houcong can give him a starting point as high as possible, so that he can become a brave general stationed in this area in the future.
As for Yan Chunsheng... he is too popular, so he can only make other arrangements, or save it for the future when he really has a chance to decisively fight the Beibei.
This is how Ma Fang started his military career in the Ming Dynasty. It can be said that this starting point is much better than that of him in another story, and he emerged much earlier.
Guo Xun gradually realized that Ma Fang was his chance.
There is never a simple person who makes the emperor look at him with special eyes.
After testing Ma Fang's riding and shooting skills, Guo Xun became more convinced of this - if he wanted to gain a foothold in the Ming army and lead a small group of cavalry as a hundred households, Ma Fang must also gain the approval of his colleagues.
This is all an episode in the Northern Expedition camp.
The Northern Expedition camp is now not only waiting for the departure in February, but also looking forward to the upcoming prisoner presentation ceremony at the end of the month.
It was not only a boast of the achievements of the imperial commander's personal expedition, but also an oath for the Northern Expedition army to continue its march northward.
Zhang Bi, the minister of state who received gifts and handed over the affairs of the ministry, was in charge of organizing everything, and all the heads of the three tribes of Duoyan must also come.
However, Zhu Houcong was reviewing the strategy submitted by Zhang Fujing and others from the capital in his palace.
Hetao returned to the embrace of the Ming Dynasty, Xuanda, and a large area of land to the north were recovered. The captives of Taolu and the three tribes of Duoyan must be properly arranged.
According to the suggestions of Zhang Fujing and Xia Yan, Datong should be re-incorporated into the scope of Shanxi Province and withdraw from the border region system.
The Loop area south of the Yellow River and Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai, which were reduced by Gunbilik, now have to be reconsidered. According to the recommendations of the State Council and the Military Affairs Conference, Gansu and Qinghai were changed to Qinghan-Gansu Border Region, while
Ningxia and Houtao and Qiantao in the north of the Yellow River were changed to the Hetao Border Area, and the Hetao south of the Yellow River was under the jurisdiction of Shaanxi Province.
As for the large areas of Xuanfu, Zhangbei, Liangcheng, Guanting, Shajing, Kaiping, and Yingchang, it is the new front line. The Xuanning border area can be set up, and the Jizhou defense line can be moved northward to the Yingchang area.
Related to this is the issue of how to deal with the three parts of Duoyan.
According to the military affairs meeting, they can be allowed to graze in the original Chahar pasture land in the north of Yingchang and the pastures in Xuanning border area. However, the three departments of Duoyan must change it. Those who are still grazing and have cavalry will be changed to wandering guards.
, were directly controlled by the Xuanning Border Region. Those who stayed in the original Daning area were divided into three states and given a hereditary native official transition.
Zhu Houcong is now thinking about this problem. The Ming Dynasty lacked cavalry, and the Duoyan Tribe actually had some cavalry, but their combat power was average.
Now, if they are willing to live and work in peace and contentment and enjoy wealth, they can temporarily become local officials and stay in the border area. Those who are still more willing to graze can graze in and outside the Xuanning border area and wander around as three guards, but they must be dispatched by the Ming Dynasty.
It hasn’t been long yet, and it is impossible for all three parts of Duoyan to be assimilated by the Ming Dynasty. A transition is indeed needed.
But in this way, Liaodong's border cities were no longer targeting the Duoyan Tribes, and so were the diplomatic envoys.
This time, the three Duoyan tribes were asked to directly become ministers of the Ming Dynasty.
The biggest problem is the huge number of Ordos captives.
There is no doubt that they must be broken up. According to the suggestions submitted by Beijing, the Herding Supervisor will accept some of them and move some to the south of the Yellow River. The Hetao Border District is responsible for the breeding of war horses and the young and strong capital will be moved to Xuanning Border District.
Come, let the Construction Bureau be transferred to supervise them to build forts, build roads, and serve.
There is also a big plan to relocate people to the border area - just a few years ago, there were a lot of native people from Zhangtian in Qing Dynasty, and there were too many people from Ming Dynasty who could encourage them to go to Hetao and Xuanning.
In addition to supporting policies, the most important thing is that the Ming Dynasty is not what it used to be, offensive and defensive changes have taken place, and the border areas are not necessarily so dangerous.
This brings up a question: What kind of policies will the Xuanning Border Region adopt for border residents, especially Tatars, in the Hetao area?
In fact, there is no psychological barrier - the grassland tribes who are more backward in form are very accustomed to and adapt to being defeated and captured as slaves.
Zhu Houcong rubbed his eyebrows: In order to eliminate hatred and assimilate, in addition to enough time, we also need to make Anda no longer a hope, and we also need to make life in the border area better than before.
Even the fate of Gunbilik will become a trend in the hearts of the Mongolian captives.
In order for them to honestly accept the status quo without putting everyone in danger, Gunbilik must have a tolerable ending. This is the joint suggestion of Zhang Fujing and Xia Yan, to make him a prince.
They even suggested that after Zhu Houcong drove Anda away once, he would also add a Khan account, use more moderate policies to further divide the grassland tribes, and use the better life in Hetao and Xuanning border areas to attract more people to Nantou.
This does not mean that we have accepted the north-south confrontation between the Ming Dynasty and the Khan Court from now on. It just wants to eliminate the hidden dangers that may be caused by so many Mongols in the territory when the Northern Expedition is exterminated again in the future, and also to allow more leading parties during the Northern Expedition.
Therefore, we should accept Zhen'anbo Yan Chunsheng's suggestion and make a girl from the Ordos tribe our concubine.
Zhu Houcong thought in his mind that this kind of approach seemed to have been done by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and also by the later emperors of the Qing Dynasty.
In the final analysis, it is still a matter of productivity, and the means of transportation and communication needed to control a huge territory. For the nomadic grassland tribes, having this kind of "submission" is like the pinnacle, coupled with marriage, they are beaten from time to time.
Zhu Houcong felt that this should be done before An Da was completely driven away or even eliminated. Zhang Fujing and the others knew this era better, and they would probably wait until the remaining unified Khan Court was wiped out in the future before making adjustments.
Yan Chunsheng and Gunbilik gradually approached Kaiping, and this time the Northern Expedition had entered garbage time.
Zhu Houcong has already seen the outcome: A person as smart as Anda should still resist, but it will kill two birds with one stone. It will not only allow the tribes to directly feel the power of the Ming Dynasty, but also weaken the power of the tribes that are still not particularly loyal.
Strong external enemies help him gather internal strength.
The decisive game is not this time.
At the end of the first year, Zhu Houcong's eyes were complicated when he saw Yan Chunsheng sitting on a horse and appearing proudly in his sight.
This was a character who appeared on his own and had no impression of him. Who would have thought that he would be so powerful that he would even overshadow Tang Shunzhi and Yu Dayou?
It can only be said that this land has never lacked heroes, it just needs history to give them opportunities.
From this time on, Zhu Houcong probably no longer needs to go on a personal expedition to boost morale. As long as he gives the opportunity, more people will emerge to complete his orders.
Months of sorrow were gone.
I made the right choice again, so what? It’s just a lost dog, the grassland version has been greatly updated.
Stay until the weather warms up and it's time to return to Beijing.
Spend your energy developing technologies that will allow future generations to sing and dance.