Zhu Yuanzhang's fighting ability is easily overlooked, especially after he ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang really did not attack the enemy in battle. But the amazing thing is that the Ming Dynasty's several Northern Expeditions were all strategies formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang single-handedly, which were remote micro-management.
But the gap between micro-management and micro-management is larger than the gap between humans and dogs.
Real micro-management, recovering Yanyun, all the way to Beihai, and overthrowing Yuan Ting... Fake micro-management, a formation map, an arrow in the butt, and a donkey cart drifting.
In fact, in the early days of the army, Zhu Yuanzhang not only went into battle to kill, but also single-handedly led Xu Da's generals. It is conservatively estimated that Zhu Yuanzhang's commanding ability will not be worse than Xu Da's.
In this world, it is definitely the best among the best.
Hu Dahai left Zhu Yuanzhang 30,000 elite soldiers. Zhu Yuanzhang also had 5,000 bodyguards and some Han generals in front of the imperial army, almost 6,000 people, plus 2,000 imperial cavalry.
This is Lao Zhu's direct military strength.
Different from the imperial guards and Han generals in the Taiping years... they all chose those who were tall, tall, and majestic in appearance, and their appearance was more important than their inner appearance.
But to be selected as the imperial guard now, who has not gone through many battles, crawled out from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and must be absolutely loyal and reliable to be selected.
It is no exaggeration to say that Zhu Yuanzhang holds the power that ultimately determines the outcome of the battle... And as the emperor, at critical moments, he can personally charge and kill, which can greatly boost morale and determine the outcome in one fell swoop!
Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang's decision to go to the battlefield in person was not just a whim and passion, he made careful calculations.
Of course, Lao Zhu decided to go to the battlefield, and Zhang Ximeng could not sit idly by.
He had to get a suit of armor and find a sword. It was quite difficult for his hand, which was accustomed to holding brushes, to suddenly hold a sword.
Looking at the bow and arrow again, Zhang Ximeng shook his head even more. They were all hard bows. He could pull them apart with all his strength, but the problem was that they couldn't shoot accurately at all, and holding them was just for show.
He also wanted to think about the matchlock gun, but Guo Ying stopped him directly. Don't be kidding! That thing will explode if it is not handled well. It will not hurt Mr. Zhang. If the upper one next to it collapses, it will be a heinous sin.
Already.
Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyes in anger, he couldn't have nothing!
Not to mention, Guo Ying got him a crossbow. It is said that this crossbow was made by skilled craftsmen for more than a year. It is powerful and easy to load.
If the cost hadn't been too high, it would have been equipped on a large scale long ago.
Just for Zhang Xiang to use for self-defense!
Listen, other people call it killing the enemy, but Zhang Ximeng calls it self-defense.
Are you being discriminated against like this?
What if I, a blind cat, kills a mouse and kills Chahan, won't I scare you to death?
Zhang Ximeng could only be secretly angry, and at this moment Chahan Timur also felt the breath of war.
Compared with Zhu Yuanzhang's making dumplings, Chahan Timur focused on Shaanzhou.
For this reason, he even secretly left the military camp and came to Mianchi to visit the front line in person.
When he met Wang Baobao, Chahan gave him a slap in the face and beat him until Baobao stood at attention and didn't even dare to fart!
"Hmph! The person named Zhu and I haven't decided the winner yet, but you lost to Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew first. How embarrassing!"
One sentence of scolding made Wang Baobao's face turn red and he was ashamed.
He attacked Shaanzhou continuously for nearly twenty days, but except for the loss of troops and generals, there was almost no progress.
At the beginning, with a strong spirit, he almost entered the city.
However, Zhu Wenzheng built several layers of barbicans in the city. After entering, he fell into a pit and lost more than a thousand elites, without taking any advantage.
In consecutive days of fighting, Wang Baobao's side alone lost more than 5,000 people, and Li Siqi's losses even exceeded Wang Baobao's.
"Father, there has never been a good way to attack a city. If you can't do it all at once, you can only delay it. When the city runs out of food and is unable to support it, it will naturally happen."
"You fart!"
Chahan Timur was so angry that he yelled, "You want to delay, will Zhu Chongba do it? He is mobilizing troops and generals. It seems that he is going to have a life-or-death showdown with his father. You have been unable to take Shaanzhou."
You, you let my father down so much!"
It’s too difficult to protect yourself, and I’m full of bitterness, but what can I do?
Zhu Wenzheng is simply a stone in a latrine, smelly and hard.
The battle of Shaanzhou has reached a stalemate. Wang Baobao has also been working hard in the past few days. He found out that two hundred years ago, a Song general named Li Yanxian lived here and resisted the Jin soldiers for more than a year.
Wang Baobao almost cried when he heard this time.
"Father, I am incompetent...but I have an idea, maybe I can find a way to break the situation."
Chahan pondered for a long time before saying, "Say it!"
Wang Baobao agreed, and then said: "Father, since Zhu Yuanzhang wants a decisive battle, he will definitely mobilize his troops to cross the river. At that time, the land of Henan was empty. Father only needs to select 20,000 to 30,000 cavalry and let him or other generals lead them from Zhengzhou and Ru
In the middle of the prefecture, take Xuzhou directly, then go south along the Ruhe and Guohe rivers to attack Haozhou and other places. You can also attack Xuzhou and Huai'an... Anyway, it is the hinterland of the Ming army. The door is wide open. Our cavalry can go in, turn the river upside down, and kill one of them.
Seven in and seven out, Zhu Yuanzhang will either go to rescue, or sit back and watch the land in his heart rot... If he goes to rescue, his father will lead an army to fight back, and those named Zhu will definitely lose!"
Baobao's mouth was still bleeding, but his eloquent talk made Chahan Timur's eyes light up.
He is now riding on the back of a tiger. Judging from the battlefield situation, he should have returned north long ago. If he can't take Shaanzhou, he can't take it. If he loses Kaifeng, he will lose it. As long as the main force of soldiers and horses is still there, there will be no
What an amazing thing.
But at this time, Chahan had another thought.
The crown prince Aiyou Shili Dara found him, hoping to get his help and ascend to the throne of God.
At this juncture, Chahan Timur is not allowed to lose the battle, otherwise he would have the nerve to do what Grand Master Dong did!
There is no need to defeat Zhu Yuanzhang, as long as he can force Zhu Yuanzhang to retreat, he can use the merits of preserving the country to abolish the establishment.
After understanding Chahan Timur's thoughts, we also understand the key to this war... Compared with Zhu Yuanzhang who focused on military affairs, Chahan's thoughts were more complicated.
At this time, it’s not about taking more chances to win. On the contrary, the more you think about, the greater the losses may be...
Wang Baobao's words gave Chahan Timur another thought. If he could really rely on a cavalry force to disrupt Zhu Yuanzhang's rear and force Lao Zhu to retreat.
That counts as a win.
Maybe it was a solution, but it was a bit troublesome to choose who would do it... Chahan Timur decided to return to Huaiqing overnight, discuss with his confidants, and make the final decision.
Wang Baobao's opinion is really not wrong. Currently, the Ming army in Henan only has the troops of Feng Guoyong and Chang Yuchun. Among them, the main force of Chang Yuchun has to be transferred to Hebei to participate in the fatal blow against Chahan.
The vast area south of Kaifeng is all flat and there is no danger to defend. An army of tens of thousands of yuan can indeed overturn rivers and seas and do whatever they want.
The entire big bag was ripped open.
"Grand Governor, you can't count like this. We still have a force of troops that we haven't used yet. Chahan won't get any advantage." Zheng Yuchun said confidently.
Chang Yuchun looked at this guy, your operation in Kaifeng successfully sent away Song Zhongliang, what bad ideas do you have now?
"Grand Governor, I am really unjust. In fact, when the Yuan army besieged Kaifeng... Bozhou, Yingzhou, Anfeng, Suzhou... these places have already surrendered to us. But because they are the homeland of Han and Song Dynasties, we did not publicize it in a big way. During this time
, we sent many propagandists, preachers, and many soldiers to assist various places in setting up militias and equalizing land. In the name of preventing powerful counterattacks, we also established bow and arrow societies to encourage people to form strongholds to protect themselves.
.”
When Chang Yuchun heard this, he was suddenly startled, "Yes, I also remembered it. I led the troops to fight here, and there were many militiamen who helped transport the heavy supplies. They made great contributions!"
Zheng Yuchun smiled and nodded, "Yes, to say that these militiamen can defeat the Mongolian cavalry is to overestimate them. But our idea of equalizing land has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The local people have organized themselves, and the Yuan soldiers
Come, we can organize the people to move and carry out a resolute clearing of the country! Moreover, the militia can also cooperate with the army to block the Yuan army and set up defenses at all levels... Chahan will be fine if he doesn't send troops. If he does, he will step into the quagmire.
No matter how far you come, you will die! There is absolutely no return!"
Having said this, it is finally revealed that behind the superficial comparison of military strength, there is a deeper balance of power.
There is no doubt that at this point, the Yuan army was defeated miserably.
Can the Mongolian cavalry still run thousands of miles like their ancestors, relying only on a little beef jerky and mare's milk?
Obviously it can't be done.
Moreover, the Jianghuai land is not the northern grassland. It has dense river networks and complex terrain. Even when Mongolia was in its heyday, it suffered a lot in this area.
Today, don’t even dream about it.
As long as the common people unite and a plate of loose sand condenses together, they will become the strongest diamond, indestructible and invincible!
After weighing the situation, Chang Yuchun decided to let Wang Bi continue to attack Zhengzhou under his own banner to contain the Yuan army.
Zheng Yuchun mobilized the militia to keep an eye on every move of the Yuan army. When necessary, he organized strongholds to clear the country, and then cooperated with Wang Bi to delay the Yuan army.
Furthermore, he gave an order to Liao Yongzhong, asking him to send elite naval forces into the Yellow River and Huaihe River... If encountering an enemy situation, they would attack decisively to protect the rear of the Ming army.
As orders were issued one after another, the main force of the Ming army was fully prepared.
The second stage of the decisive battle in the Central Plains is just around the corner... and it is Lan Yu who decides when this battle will begin!
Breaking through Baixingkou and marching for two hundred miles, you can reach Shangdang, which is the intersection of Taihangxing and Baixing... In other words, taking Shangdang will block the north of Chahan Timur.
The way back home.
It's just that Baixing is so dangerous. Chahan stationed a large army in Taihang. Every key pass cannot be left undefended. How to break through Baixing Pass is definitely a problem.
"Grand Governor, I have walked through Baixingkou three times." Lan Yu said seriously: "It is different from other Taihang thoroughfares. Baixingkou is the main trade route between Shanxi and Henan, and the trade of goods between the northwest and southeast.
Everyone walks here, so it is also regarded as the Taihang Silk Road. Businessmen from Jin Dynasty are constantly coming and going."
Hu Dahai was startled, and then said: "The two armies are fighting, are they still like this?"
Lan Yu laughed loudly, "It is precisely because of the war that more money is needed to support the war. The profits from business transactions are higher!"
Hu Dahai was stunned and suddenly thought of his son. Yes, it was because Zhu Yuanzhang banned alcohol that he could make huge profits, so that boy would seek death!
Lao Hu gritted his teeth and said, "The word "benefit" is really harmful!"
Lan Yu didn't say anything, he didn't want to discuss profound philosophical issues. Lan Yu planned to dress up as a merchant, pass through Baixingkou first, and go around to the rear of the Yuan army.
Then let Hu Dahai lead a vanguard to pretend to attack Baixingkou and lure the Yuan army out.
In this way, whenever the Yuan army was dispatched, Lan Yu took the opportunity to seize the Yuan army camp and raise the Ming army's flag.
"Grand Governor, I also recruited a few hunters from the Taihang Mountains, and then selected 200 soldiers to follow the hunters and walk around the back of Baixingkou on a small road. The three of us will work together to break through Baixingkou in a matter of seconds!"
Although Hu Dahai looks rude, he has a delicate heart. He carefully considered it to make sure there were no omissions before nodding.
"Everyone in the world is watching. The victory or defeat in this battle is related to the great cause of the Ming Dynasty's Northern Expedition. Only victory is allowed, no defeat! No one can make any mistakes!"
Lan Yu nodded, clenched her fists and said, "Don't worry, Governor, I have been preparing for this day for almost five years! Five years! Five whole years!"
