The next day, go up early in the morning.

All the ministers were there. Yu Qian, the Minister of War, stepped out of the queue and said solemnly.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War received a military report from the Xuanfu last night. The governor, Qianshi Yang Xin, was ordered by the chief military officer Yang Hong to lead an army of 5,000 people and attack the Alazhiyuan camp at night. They beheaded 4,000 people and seized grain, grass and countless ordnance."

"There were also Longmen guards, all commanding the Qian officer Xia Zhong to report. Yesterday evening, there were about four thousand thieves who went to the surrounding villages and towns to rob them. They were ambushed by Xia Zhong and his army, and they fled in panic."

As soon as the words fell, the courtiers below, who were still quiet at first, immediately exploded with a "buzz".

You know, since the civil engineering, all the news about the border has been bad one after another, listening to Yu Qian's deep and powerful voice.

The courtiers were in a daze for a while. Could it be that Yu Shangshu had read the military report wrongly and that our army had lost four thousand people in the battle?

But the fact is the fact!

After a brief discussion, a group of courtiers suddenly beamed with joy, and a censor immediately stood up and said.

"Your Majesty, this battle is a great victory. We should send a message to the generals along the border passes to boost the morale of our border troops."

"Yes, Your Majesty, this is our army's first victory after civil engineering. We should give generous gifts to the Xuanfu guard Yang Hong and the governor Qianshi Yang Xin."

Zhu Qiyu sighed as he looked at the excited old men below.

Once upon a time, Ming Dynasty was so arrogant and dismissive when facing Wala.

Now, the victory of such a night raid on the camp made them overjoyed.

Does the impact of the Tumu Campaign extend beyond the border guards?

…………

After going to court, in the Wuying Palace.

Unlike when all the officials from the previous court were present, there were only a few important ministers from the Seventh Qing Dynasty left in the palace at this moment, plus Chen Mao, Li Xian and other senior officials.

Yu Qian stood in the hall, still looking serious, and said.

"Your Majesty, the garrison at Daomaguan ordered Han Qing to report."

"Ye Xian's army of more than 30,000 people, working day and night without stopping, has captured Maguan for four days."

"Cooperating with the garrison general Sun Bor to go out of the city to meet the enemy, he died in a fierce battle. The morale of the officers and soldiers in the pass was low. The imperial court sent Cao Tai, the admiral and military inspector, and Yu Yan, the inspection censor, to lead the army and go out with the army. Yu Yan died in the battle, and Cao Tai was seriously injured and broke his arm.

"

"Now there are more than 4,000 dead soldiers in Maguan, and 3,000 wounded. However, there are less than 3,000 fighting officers. Please send troops for reinforcements from the imperial court."

A great victory in Xuanfu can certainly boost the morale of the army.

But this cannot change, Ming Dynasty is still at a disadvantage in the battle with Wala.

After Baiyangkou was captured, we first went all the way south and conquered several small passes. Now we have been attacking at Daoma Pass for nearly four days.

It must be said that as a civil servant who has always actively expressed himself and proved to the emperor that he can replace his relatives, his performance in this battle was quite outstanding.

Yang Xinmin, the counselor at Baiyangkou, Cao Tai, the inspector-general who defeated Maguan, and Yu Yan, the censor on inspection.

But when they arrived on the battlefield one by one, they were more powerful than the generals.

If you can win, go ahead; if you can't, die for your country!

This is basically the consensus of a group of civil servants who were sent out.

So far, no fewer than a dozen civil servants have died defending the city at various passes.

Of the seven censors who were demoted by Zhu Qiyu to coordinate the defense at the great court meeting, only two are still alive today.

Zhu Qiyu breathed out softly and asked.

"How is the migration situation of the people in Daomaguan? Also, how is the layout of Zijingguan?"

Yu Qian replied: "Back to the emperor, 90% of the people in Daomaguan have moved to Juyongguan, and the remaining ones are speeding up their migration."

"Zijingguan is stepping up its arrangements. Now the army's baggage has arrived. All arrangements will be completed in three days at the latest."

Zhu Qiyu rapped his knuckles lightly on the case and said in deep thought.

"The order is given to Han Qing, who is good at nurturing the morale of the army, and who strengthens the walls and clears the country. Anyone who dies in this battle will be promoted to the first level of the hereditary military household, and the pension will be doubled. Officials will give it as a reward as usual."

Ignoring the pained look on Shen Yi's face, the Minister of Revenue, Zhu Qiyu flashed a trace of determination on his face and said.

"Even if you die, you have to survive three days for me!"

"Three days later, Han Qing was allowed to lead his army to retreat to Juyongguan."

…………

On the other end, it’s down to horse pass.

The cold wind in late autumn blew away endless yellow leaves.

Under the scarred city wall, countless corpses were lying strewn about.

The officers and soldiers guarding the city leaned against the city wall in twos and threes, gulping down the military rations and cold water that had been prepared long ago.

The air was filled with a thick smell of blood, and countless dried blood stains dyed the withered yellow leaves with a faint layer of bright red.

Two people stood on the dilapidated city wall.

One man was wearing armor and had a strong back, but his face was full of fatigue, and he looked exhausted both physically and mentally.

The other one was wearing a light crimson official robe, his face was pale, and the official robe on his left arm was empty, as if someone had cut it off with a knife.

They were Han Qing, the commander-in-chief of the garrison at Taima Pass, and Cao Tai, the military admiral and inspector.

At this moment, Cao Tai held a military report in his hand. After a long while, he breathed a long sigh of relief and said.

"Commander Han, prepare to fight to the death!"

Han Qing's face darkened, he took the military report from Cao Tai, read it twice carefully, took two steps back, leaned on the city wall to barely avoid falling, and said sadly.

"Three days? How is that possible? Mr. Cao, you know the situation inside the pass well. There are less than three thousand troops to fight, and there are more than 20,000 troops outside. How can we fight?"

Compared to Han Qing's excitement, Cao Tai was much calmer. He took two steps forward and looked at the corpses lying scattered underneath.

The bleak autumn wind blew his robes, and Cao Tai, who had lost an arm, looked even thinner in the autumn wind.

His expression slowly became determined and he said.

"Commander Han, you and I are favored by the imperial court, and our duty is to defend the city and protect the people."

"It has been stated in the military report that we are holding on to gain more time to allow the people in other passes to evacuate, and to leave more time for the defenders of Zijin Pass to arrange their arrangements."

"This battle is not about the number of people but the military order from the imperial court. You and I are not allowed to retreat."

However, Han Qing suddenly jumped up from the ground and shouted as if he was stimulated.

"That's an army of more than 30,000 people! The Emperor and his 200,000 people were defeated. How could we hold on?"

Veins burst out on Han Qing's face, and his expression was ferocious.

"It's been four days, and all my soldiers are almost dead! If we continue to fight, I will die too!"

With that said, Han Qing grabbed Cao Tai's empty left sleeve and said.

"Master Cao, Cao Tai! Have you forgotten? Yesterday, you almost died! If I hadn't risked my life to save you, how could you be standing here alive and preaching to me now?"

Cao Tai clenched his right fist, but did not speak and just fell silent.

The autumn wind blew away the bloody smell in the air and went straight into people's nostrils.

Han Qing gradually calmed down, seeming to remember something, and looked struggling for a while.

After a moment, he lowered his voice, approached Cao Tai, and said.

"Master Cao, you and I have a fate-telling friendship. Now that the court's intention has been decided, you and I are treated as outcasts. I, Old Han, don't want to die yet!"

Cao Tai looked slightly cold and asked: "Then what do you want to do?"

Han Qing turned around, looked at the camp in the distance, and said.

"Look, that's Ye Xian's camp. The Emperor is also there. This time, the Emperor is going back to Beijing..."

Cao Tai's expression darkened completely: "Han Qing, are you crazy? You actually want to surrender to the enemy?"

Han Qing shook his head, his face twisted, and said.

"Why do you say that I surrendered to the enemy? I defected to the Supreme Emperor. When the Supreme Emperor returns to Beijing, maybe you and I will be the heroes who help him regain his throne."

After a pause, Han Qing turned around, stared at Cao Tai intently, and said.

"Cao Tai, Old Han, I only made this connection with you because we have a life-long friendship."

"Leave with Lao Han, if you stay, you will die!"

Cao Tai stared at Han Qing, also unable to take his eyes away.

The two looked at each other on the city wall.

In the end, Cao Tai was defeated, looked struggling for a while, and asked.

"Han Qing, don't forget that you and my family are all in the pass. What will they do if you and I leave?"

Han Qing breathed a sigh of relief, quietly released his hand on the long knife at his waist, and said.
To be continued...