I, Zhu Youjian: the first prodigal son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 209 A Dangerous Game of Chess
Only defeat is allowed, no victory is allowed, and no soldiers are allowed to be lost...

How to fight this ambush?
Wang Yunyan took General Mao's order and led [-] soldiers and horses out for a distance of seven or eight miles, still muttering in her heart.

Xiaowangzhuang is located on the only road between Datong Mansion and Taiyuan Mansion. There are two small rivers, which dry up all year round and are basically of no use value.

In addition, within seventy or eighty miles around, there are ravines and ravines, and the two big rivers should be excellent ambush locations.

The problem is that the roads in that area are really narrow, and no matter whether infantry or cavalry, it is impossible to pass smoothly.

One shot for another place?
Not at all.

The dry rations that the northern barbarian cavalry carried with them should have been eaten up in about a day or two.

What they are most anxious about should be looking for food...

Wang Yunyan sat on the horseback, lost in thought.

"General, twelve miles ahead is Xiaowangzhuang."

All of a sudden, a messenger rushed over, not bothering to wipe the sweat all over his face, and reported loudly: "The northern barbarian cavalry is about forty miles away from Xiaowangzhuang.

Hu Shen will ask for instructions in front, how to arrange troops? "

Wang Yunyan reined in the horse's head, murmured a few times, and said, "Let them plant three hundred landmines on the road they must pass.

In addition, set up a pocket formation on Gouwa Mountain.

Remember, we are going to crash this time, run around all over the mountains, and finally meet at the sweet water well. "

"Crushed in one blow?" The orderly was taken aback.

"Yes, set up the formation, scare them, and then leave all the messy things and retreat!" Wang Yunyan said in a deep voice: "Remember, you can only lose, not win.

Not a single soldier is allowed to be lost! "

"Uh……"

The orderly turned his horse's head with a puzzled look on his face, and galloped away.

Wang Yunyan scratched the back of her head vigorously, feeling a little baffled.

This battle was fought.

useless...

……

Wang Yunyan didn't know, but besides him, the top general of the rebel army, the other generals also looked depressed at the moment.

Only defeat, not victory.

How is this fight going?
"Why, you can only win battles, you're such an ass general!" In a wooden house in the cottage, Mao Yuanyi stared at a topographic map of Shanxi on the wall, and said without looking back:

"Wang Yunyan is better at fighting than you guys, and he will understand as soon as I say it."

"At this moment, it is estimated that they have arrived at Xiaowangzhuang, and in half an hour, they will be beaten to pieces by the northern barbarian cavalry and completely collapsed."

"Guerrilla warfare is about being able to win, but also about being defeated. Generally speaking, losing is for the final and greater victory."

Generals: "..."

Mao Dashuai's words are too profound, and no one can understand them.

Mao Yuanyi was not angry either. Like a good-natured gentleman, he pinched a stick and slowly explained on the map: "Look, the terrain on this road is mostly mountainous and hilly;
There are ravines and ravines, and there are also a lot of woodlands.

We have to lure them out of the woodland as soon as possible, and put them in a place without clear water, grass and game.

Otherwise, if those bow-legged people sneak into the mountains and catch Mimi with us, it will undoubtedly lengthen the battle line. "

The generals seem to understand but not understand.

They were all Ming veteran soldiers recruited by Yuan Chonghuan. They followed Mao Yuanyi and fought many guerrilla warfare in Guanzhong, Northern Shaanxi and Qinling.

Mao Yuanyi's command method is quite clear.

However, this time, they really didn't understand.

Because, even on the front lines of Xiaowangzhuang, Chenjiagou, and Xiaomi, if you fight a few ambushes and encirclement battles, you can completely defeat the [-] northern barbarian cavalry at the lowest cost.

"You must be clear, the [-] northern barbarian cavalry, we must find a way to completely annihilate them, not defeat them!"

Mao Yuanyi's voice finally turned serious.

He put down the 'pointer' in his hand, and said earnestly: "What are these people doing here? Who can tell me?"

A general tentatively said: "Isn't it the same as before, looting, massacring, threshing rice..."

"No, if you think so, we will suffer a lot this time."

Mao Yuanyi said solemnly: "This time, more than 100 tribes of the northern barbarians have rebuilt the Golden Royal Court in the depths of the Waikalkha Grassland. They have a big plan, and they are not like in the past, fleeing back to the desert after one vote.

Their first goal is to grab food.

The second goal is food. "

Immediately afterwards, Mao Yuanyi explained the information he had obtained to the generals in detail: "There are people in the south and southeast coastal areas who are ready to move, and it is estimated that they will raise troops in the near future;

In the northwest, north, Liaodong, and southwest directions, all the local emperors, princes, and Baylors have agreed to break the foundation of my Ming Dynasty.

They have already calculated that if there is a problem with this batch of summer grain, large-scale famine will break out in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Zhili, Henan, and even Anhui.

When the time comes, shall we suppress the bandits first?
Or should we fight to the death with the Land of Nine Sides first, exhausted?

Therefore, everyone should not underestimate this great battle. For every Northern barbarian cavalry, you must do everything possible to deal a devastating blow to them, and you must not let go of a soldier or a cavalry! "

Only then did the generals understand.

It turned out that this was a big game of chess!

"In addition, for these two [-]-strong teams, I also took great pains to make such a layout."

Mao Yuanyi picked up the pointer again, and began to point out on the topographic map: "Look, around Datong Mansion, go east, south, and west, and to the east are Baoding Mansion and Shuntian Mansion, which are the land of the capital.

Dare we let them pass?
dare not.

To the south is Taiyuan Mansion, do we dare to let them go there?
Neither dare.

Because, although the city in these two directions is very strong, a mere [-] light cavalry is not enough to fill the teeth. The question is, what is outside the city in those two directions?
It's food!
We've almost snapped up the summer wheat, and they won't be able to grab much.

However, what grows in our fields are autumn grains, sorghum, millet, millet, corn, and sweet potatoes in large areas of imperial fields.

With [-] cavalry running around in the fertile fields in the plains, we will be in big trouble. "

Mao Yuanyi is really a good teacher by presenting the facts and reasoning.

"Everyone, do you understand?"

"I understand!"

"So, how to fight this battle?"

"Continuously retreat, lead them to the west, put them on our territory and kill them all!"

Mao Yuanyi smiled gratifiedly.

This general is not too bad, so there is no need to point your nose and curse.

As early as a month ago, after receiving the letter from Duke Cao, Mao Yuanyi began to plan how to fight this battle well.

In his opinion, this is an extremely dangerous and tough battle, no less than a horse riding a wealthy family.

Because, he has concerns.

He has to stabilize the largest base of the Ming Dynasty for the idiot emperor, otherwise, with the 10,000+ troops in Mao Yuanyi's hands, and with the support of the Daming Engineering Bureau and Daming Academy, it doesn't matter if he sweeps the world!
The reasoning is clear, and the next strategic and tactical arrangements are logical.

A ravine, a village chief, and a mountain ridge, Mao Yuanyi explained clearly to everyone.

There is only one purpose.

That is, take the [-] beasts to the front line of Yan'an Mansion and Qingyang Mansion, completely smash, maim, and kill them, and they will never be soft-hearted!

It was there that Mao Yuanyi could let go of his hands and feet and kill the killer.

Only there is the nightmare land of the northern barbarian cavalry.

……

Wang Yunyan's defeat was just as real. The two vanguard troops of the northern barbarians broke through the encirclement with only a loss of seventy or eighty grassland warriors.

dry food!

Water bladder!

There are also some "junk goods" such as gongs, drums, flags, pots and stoves, which make the northern barbarians enthusiastically climax and cheer loudly.

However, looking at the direction of the defeat of the Ming army from a distance, the prince of the Tumet tribe and Wanhu of Ordos frowned slightly, with a look of doubt on his face.

"The direction of their defeat is the east, right?"

"Yes, it's east, it should be in the direction of Zhending Mansion and Baoding Mansion."

"The important place in the capital leading to Ming Dynasty?"

Wang Ye and Wan Hu looked at each other, and the look of surprise on their faces gradually became thicker.

Daming's new firearms beat the northern barbarians into pain.

I was also scared.

For the future siege battle, they were afraid, or in other words, they didn't even want to think about it.

Unless there are some small cities with dilapidated walls that can be defeated in one blow, even if Mangurtai is killed, it is estimated that they will not easily attack the city again.

The first step of Mao Yuanyi's plan has almost come true.

Then hit the pain first.

Then, lure the wolf into the house...

……

"My lord, our goal is Daming's food, what should we do next?" Wan Hu from the Ordos tribe asked sideways.

"To the south is the direction of Taiyuan Mansion." Prince Tumet pondered for a few moments, then suddenly turned his head, calling a young warrior to come over, "Tell me about the grain fields, population, roads, etc. from Datong Mansion to Taiyuan Mansion. Bar.

By the way, there is also their city defense situation. "

The young warrior was on horseback, saluted the prince and Wanhu first, and then said clearly: "There are three ways to go to Taiyuan Mansion.

One of them, the road is tight and difficult to walk, is most suitable for ambushes with mines and muskets of the Ming army;
One, you need to cross a large mountainous area, with high mountains and dense forests, difficult roads, and few official soldiers and horses.The only problem is that there are few villages and towns along this road, and our food supply is the biggest problem.

As for the third road, it is a bit of a detour, and there is a Shanxi town on the way, and the Ming Dynasty has a regular garrison of about [-] soldiers..."

This young warrior was an 'overseas student' from various tribes of the northern barbarians who secretly colluded with some ministers of the court and sneaked into several major academies in Shanxi.

If it hadn't been for the shaved-headed horses stepping into Datong and washing Taiyuan with blood, it is estimated that more "Da Ming Tong" would emerge to serve as the "combat staff" of the Northern Barbarian cavalry...

It can only be said that the idiot emperor and Mao Yuanyi have similar tastes and hit it off, and they have completely eradicated a serious problem for the upcoming battle.

If Zhu Youjian heard about this, he would probably be able to spend another day and night in high spirits...

"In your opinion, which way should we go?" asked the prince.

"My lord, Lord Wanhu, I think it is more appropriate to go in the direction of Taiyuan Town," the young warrior said loudly, "There are three reasons.

First, the densely populated villages on that road can provide a lot of supplies;
Second, just because there is a town of Taiyuan guarded by [-] soldiers, the main force of Ming Dynasty will not be placed in that direction. In my opinion, their blocking army should be concentrated in the direction leading to the capital of Zhili;
Last but not least, there is a lot of open space on that road, and it is close to the northern Great Wall. If we see that the situation is not right, we will be able to withdraw from the Great Wall in three to five days. The Ming army can only stare blankly at this..."

The young warrior talked eloquently, and finally convinced the prince and Lord Wanhu.

"Pass the order down, don't chase after the poor!"

"Turn around and head towards Taiyuan Town!"

The prince of the Tumed tribe and the Lord Wanhu of the Ordos tribe secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, there is such a 'Da Ming Tong' around me.

Otherwise, it would not be worth the loss if people make a few ambushes.

As a result, the 2 horses of the Northern Man turned to Taiyuan Town in the southwest to kill.

Along the way, there were naturally various "vulnerable" blocking battles, which made the leader of this army feel:
This is the right way!
……

at the same time.

Wang Yunyan's 3000 troops fell behind.

For this part of the battle, he can be regarded as understanding.

Therefore, when he received Mao Yuanyi's four-word order to 'break his back', Wang Yunyan immediately gave the order and followed behind.

From time to time, they would jump out suddenly and eat ten or twenty cavalrymen, which annoyed the other party, but felt that it was not harmful.

In this way, fighting and stopping, pulling and pulling, [-] cavalry were finally led to the city of Taiyuan Town.

"My lord, can we attack the city?"

"How about attacking tentatively?"

"Okay, let's make a charge first, and if something is wrong, let's turn around and leave?"

"It's enough to test it out. We will almost run out of food in a day or two..."

An extremely serious problem was placed in front of the two northern barbarian cavalry commanders: there was no food.

Along the way, the summer grain was harvested and transported away.

All the villages, small towns, etc., are empty.

After many cavalry ran out of food, they could only hunt and kill some hares, yellow sheep, roe rats, etc. to satisfy their hunger.

If this delay continues, there will only be a batch of war horses slaughtered in seven or eight days.

For cavalry, it is absolutely impossible to slaughter horses unless it is a last resort.

The horses are easy to deal with, there are many fields along the way, and the young crops inside are the best horse feed...

……

The defense of Taiyuan Town is still Mao Yuanyi's people.

Therefore, the style of play is basically the same. In the first wave of the northern barbarians' charge, more than 200 horses were killed.

Moreover, learning the lesson from last time, in addition to mines and muskets, the general who defended the city ordered to shoot a few shots beautifully at the charging cavalry team.

Two hundred small steel cannons, the range is not far, and the power is not very powerful, but the price is light.

When disassembled, two horses can carry a small steel cannon, which is much easier to use than the Hongyi cannon, which weighs several thousand catties.

Veterans of the Ming Dynasty immediately fell in love with this small steel cannon, and affectionately called it a 'shaving cannon'...

"Withdraw, stop the siege!"

Seeing that a wave of charge would result in heavy losses, the prince and Lord Wanhu directly ordered to detour to Taiyuan Town and head towards the front line of Shanyin and Shuozhou.

They searched for food along the Fen River.

Five days later, we arrived in the Luliang Mountains.

(End of this chapter)