Tang Tong, the capital of Daning, stood on the wall of Baoding and saw the figure of a thief in yellow appearing outside the city.
When he closed his eyes, he saw a scene of blood flowing into the river on the bank of the Wei River.
A few years ago, he was ordered to follow Sun Chengzong, Master Sun, to attack the bandits in yellow.
After the defeat, Master Sun did not escape, only a small number of Guanning cavalry and infantry escaped.
He was the quickest to see an opportunity at that time. When he found that he could not defeat him, he immediately withdrew from the battlefield.
Only one life was saved, and only nearly half of his men were lost.
Guan Ning's army was injured in this battle, but they had people in the court and retained a relatively complete army.
Some of them maintained the Guan Ning cavalry and some became the Guan Ning New Army under Sun Chuanting.
He, Tang Tong, had no one in the court, suffered heavy losses in his army, took the blame for the failure, and was demoted to the post of Daning Dusi.
His stay in Baoding City for several years also allowed him to avoid the fierce collision between the Ming and Qin armies.
Every time there was a war between the Ming and Qin armies, the Ming Dynasty ended in defeat. The generals who led the army were either killed or captured.
Pang Yong, commander of Shenwu Right Guards, walked to Tang Tong's side.
"Father-in-law, the Qin Army has 80,000 regular troops, plus an equal number of garrison troops. They are the second-line troops of the Qin Army, and their combat effectiveness is also very strong.
There are only 20,000 people in Baoding City. How can we fight this battle?
Will the imperial court support Baoding City?
Among the military households in the city, I, the Shenwu right guard, am the only one who can still maintain training, and the soldiers can also operate the Hongyi cannon.
The combat effectiveness of other guard military households is not as good as the Qin army's garrison.
More than 100,000 Qin troops besieged Baoding City, which put too much pressure on us.
The range of the Hongyi cannons on our city is much worse than that of the Qin army's cannons.
The Qin army can take their time and blow up the city wall, and by then we will be just fish on the chopping board, without even the ability to resist."
Tang Tong looked at Pang Yong, this was the in-laws he had formed after coming to Baoding.
At that time, Pang Yong's first wife died, so he married his daughter to Pang Yong.
He just took a fancy to Pang Yong, while others were still eating and waiting to die, but he knew how to train the army.
The foundation left behind by Pang Yong's father is not good. This army has been trained for two or three years, but it has not become a strong army.
Tang Tong knew that a strong army could be trained slowly, but attitude was very important.
In such troubled times, there is no way to survive without working hard.
Tang Tong just didn't expect that the Qin army developed so fast, it only took a few years.
They left Hanzhong and swept through half of the Ming Dynasty, and now they have reached Baoding City.
Behind Baoding is Zhuzhou. If Zhuzhou is defeated, Shuntian Prefecture will have no danger to defend and can directly hit Yongding Gate.
Tang Tong did not answer Pang Yong's question. He sighed and walked down from the city wall.
He has been ups and downs in the army for decades. The strength of the Qin army and the strength of his own army are very clear, and there is no need to answer at all.
As a result, he knew a long time ago that Baoding City could not stop the Qin army at all, and it was only a matter of time before it was breached.
Unless the imperial court can send a large number of reinforcements to support the Baoding battle.
But now no reinforcements have come to Baoding City.
Yang Sichang and Grand Scholar Yang also knew this.
From the fact that he did not send any soldiers to Baoding and focused on defending Zhuzhou, we know what Ming Dynasty was thinking.
Baoding City is just an abandoned son.
The purpose of its existence is to slow down the march of the Qin army, buy some time for other places to mobilize troops.
Tang Tong sat on the Taishi's chair, looking at the weeds growing outside the window, feeling tangled in his heart.
He, the abandoned son, had to find a way to struggle, he couldn't just accept his fate.
His own soldiers soon came to report: "Sir, Mr. Pang has brought a stranger."
Tang Tong frowned. He and Pang Yong had just separated. Why did he bring a stranger with him?
He ordered his soldiers to let these two people in.
Tang Tong observed the two people who came in. Pang Yong's face was a little tangled and panicked.
Following Pang Yong was a young man in his twenties, dressed as a businessman, but he didn't look like a businessman at all.
He was so confident that he didn't look scared at all, not like a businessman looking at him.
Han Yunxian walked into the house, clasped his fists, and directly identified himself.
"Han Yunxian, Director of the Third Department of the Qin Army's Military Intelligence Bureau, pays homage to Mr. Tang."
Tang Tong's eyes widened and he said loudly: "Qin Army's Military Intelligence Bureau, you are so brave, you dare to come to my place.
Come here, get him for me."
When the soldiers outside the door heard this, they immediately drew their swords and broke into the house.
Pang Yong immediately spoke up and said: "Father-in-law, this can't be done. In this situation, we must leave a way out for ourselves."
Han Yunxian said calmly: "Master Tang, anyone with a discerning eye can see the current situation clearly.
Do you think Daming can survive this test?
Mr. Tang came to defend the capital. Can you think of a way to resist the Qin army's offensive?
Do you think Yang Sichang has the ability to stop the Qin army?"
As soon as Han Yunxian said these words, Tang Tong immediately fell into deep thought.
He waved his hand and said to the soldiers: "You go out first and guard the outside of the door. No one can let them in without my order."
After Tang Tong finished speaking, he immediately changed his smile and stretched out his hand to make an invitation gesture.
"Director Han, let's sit down and talk."
Tang Tong was not a loyal person to the Ming Dynasty.
Now Daming's ship is about to capsize. If the conditions are right, he doesn't mind boarding the new ship at all.
Han Yunxian took a huge risk to enter the city because he could judge in advance what kind of person Tang Tong was.
He is not an official who is loyal to the Ming Dynasty. This kind of person pays more attention to his own interests.
As long as the interests are suitable, he can rebel against anyone at any time.
Tang Tong's performance now was as expected.
When he made this gesture, he must have the idea of surrender in his heart. As long as the conditions were right, Tang Tong would offer Baoding City.
Convincing a Ming army general to surrender was a greater achievement than obtaining important information about the Ming army.
There is no Ming general with a heavy army who has surrendered to them before the war begins.
Han Yunxian was able to persuade Tang Tong, and he accomplished the feat of defeating the enemy without fighting for the first time since the establishment of the Military Intelligence Agency.
Tang Tong drank a cup of tea to hide his complicated mood.
He didn't kill Han Yunxian on the spot, he just wanted to see if the conditions proposed by Han Yunxian were suitable?
In this situation, he could see that the Qin army was unstoppable.
The Guan Ning army that was chasing Wu Xiang could not stop the Qin army's attack, and the tall walls of the capital city could not stop the Qin army's attack.
He originally had some feelings for the Ming Dynasty, but Emperor Chongzhen kicked him to Baoding City.
His good impression of the Ming Dynasty and Emperor Chongzhen had completely disappeared.
Tang Tong now wants to sell Baoding City at a good price.
If the Qin army doesn't pay enough, he will never surrender unless it reaches an irreversible situation.
It's better to be scarred than to be sold cheaply.
Han Yunxian sat opposite Tang Tong and said, "Master Tang, you also know the relevant policies of our Qin army.
As long as you surrender, the glory and wealth of your Tang family will be guaranteed, and the generals and soldiers under Mr. Tang can continue to stay in the army after passing the assessment.
Mr. Tang is a bit too old to serve in the regular army, but he can serve as an officer in the second-line army such as the garrison.
Lord Tang's level will definitely be higher than that of Daning Dusi.
We gave Mr. Tang a settlement allowance of one million taels of silver coins.
Officers and soldiers in the military will have corresponding arrangements if they fail the assessment."
Tang Tong put down his tea cup and said: "My Tang family has served the Ming Dynasty for generations, and Emperor Chongzhen thinks highly of me.
There are more than 20,000 troops and more than 100 red barbarian cannons in Baoding City.
I am confident that I can defend Baoding City."
Tang Tong said this because he disagreed with Han Yunxian's conditions.
The Qin army wanted Tang Tong to surrender, but these conditions were not enough and they had to pay more.
When Han Yunxian listened to Tang Tong's words, he already understood what Tang Tong meant.
This is because he looked down upon the conditions he proposed.
Han Yunxuan gritted his teeth and said that the treatment was better within his authority.
Under normal circumstances, Tang Tong's strength would not allow him to receive such treatment.
Now is the time to buy horse bones for thousands of dollars. As long as Tang Tong can surrender, and others can follow Tang Tong's example, they will have no psychological burden if they surrender again.
"Master Tang, I am very sincere. I will use my maximum authority to improve your treatment.
The conditions just now remain unchanged. As long as Mr. Tang agrees to surrender, he will be made an earl.
You can recommend two people to enter the military academy and the Imperial College respectively."
Tang Tong carefully thought about Han Yunxian's conditions, and what attracted him most was to become a noble.
If you become a noble, you will enter the upper class circle of the Qin army.
He had learned about the aristocrats in the Qin Army. They did not have some common privileges, but the implicit privileges were also very heavy. The most important thing was to join the aristocratic circle.
What he wants is glory and wealth. With the status of a noble, he can integrate into the circle of nobles, and he will not worry about money at all.
Future generations will have aristocratic status and be guaranteed.
Recommend two people to enter the military academy and the Imperial College, which are also excellent conditions.
The officers of the Qin Army basically all graduated from military academies. Officers who graduated from military academies could hold official positions equivalent to those of a thousand households in the Ming Dynasty.
The Imperial College is a place where government officials are trained. After they go out, they can at least serve as a county magistrate.
With these two quotas, coupled with the acquired noble status, it is guaranteed that the Tang family will not decline.
When Tang Tong saw Han Yunxian say this condition.
He was moved, and he estimated that Han Yunxian could come up with better terms.
If he squeezes Han Yunxian some more, these conditions should be adjusted upwards.
But they are about to become colleagues, and if they are squeezed too much, they will become enemies, which is not good.
"Director Han, I agree to your terms, but I can't believe it when you say it in vain.
Pang Yong, don't let other people know about this matter. You go there in person, meet with King Qin Su He and negotiate the corresponding conditions."
When Pang Yong heard Tang Tong's order, he was a little nervous. Once the surrender was not handled well, he would not be able to come back.
But he knew that this was also his chance to perform.
It would also be good for him to really surrender. The descendants of the Tang family performed very poorly in the military, so he could compete for the spot in the military academy held by Tang Tong.
Han Yunxian and Pang Yong, under Tang Tong's arrangement, quietly slipped out of Baoding City without anyone noticing.
…………………………
On March 21, Su He's army arrived at the gates of Baoding City.
He watched as the river completely dissolved. In the countryside outside Baoding, there were already people holding cattle and preparing to plow the fields.
Su He called Yang Zhengfeng, the governor of Northern Zhili.
"Now is the time for spring plowing. If we are at war, we should not delay the spring plowing.
The southern part of Northern Zhili has been included under our rule.
The officials we dispatched and you urgently selected a group of demoted officials and immediately entered the countryside to organize the people to divide the land for farming.
The speed must be fast and don't delay the farming time.
Northern Zhili has no occupied areas.
You follow the garrison and we must at least ensure that the newly occupied areas can successfully complete spring plowing."
Yang Zhengfeng promised: "Your Majesty, I will do my best to get the government up and running and ensure the spring plowing work."
Su He looked outside and at the green grass on the shore.
This large-scale deployment of troops for war has removed a large number of young people, which will definitely have some impact on spring plowing.
They have also secured a lot of territory. This year, the overall food supply will increase a lot, but they will also add a large number of new people.
I hope that the corn industry can be strengthened and more corn can be produced, so that we can hope to feed more people.
This year is the most difficult year and will consume a lot of stored grain.
When winter wheat is planted in Henan this year and corn is planted next autumn, Suhe will no longer have to worry about food.
Qin Shanshui, the leader of the guard regiment, walked over with a solemn expression and made a gesture to Su He to report something important.
"Governor Yang, we have raided many gentry's homes. Spring plowing is about to begin and we need a lot of cattle and farm tools. You go to the Logistics Department to hand over the cattle and farm tools and lend them to the people for free."
When Yang Zhengfeng heard Su He's instructions, he immediately exited the camp and went to the logistics department to collect cattle and farm tools.
Qin Shanshui came over and said: "Your Majesty, Han Yunxian, director of the Third Department of the Military Intelligence Bureau, has brought a Ming army general to discuss the surrender of Baoding City on behalf of Tang Tong."
When Su He heard this, his eyes lit up.
It is not difficult for the Qin army to capture Baoding City, but it is better if they can capture Baoding City without taking action.
It will not cause casualties, save time, and quickly reach Yongding Gate.
Tang Tong's actions opened up a new path for other Ming army generals, and more people would choose to surrender in the future.
Su He first asked Han Yunxian to come in and listen to Han Yunxian's detailed report on the incident.
He praised: "You have done a good job, this is not a high request.
I spent thousands of gold to buy horse bones, and if I prepare them this time, it will be much easier to attack other cities in the future."
The guard group received Su He's order. After a simple inspection, they brought Pang Yong to the camp.
Pang Yong saw King Qin Su He sitting on the chair in front of him, and he immediately prepared to kneel down and kowtow.
"There is no need to kowtow, our Qin army does not like the etiquette of kneeling.
I agree to all the conditions Han Yunxian agreed to.
I haven't broken my promise yet, so you don't need to worry."
Su He personally wrote the relevant decrees and the edict of Tang Tong's title, and stamped them with his private seal and jade seal.
Pang Yong took the decree written by Su He with both hands, and he returned to Baoding City with Han Yunxian under the cover of night.
Tang Tong was completely relieved when he saw the decree and the edict of title brought by Pang Yong.
The King of Qin personally wrote the decree and used the seal. This cannot be faked.
What he fears most is that Han Yunxian's status is very low and he only makes empty promises.
After Tang Tong offered Baoding City, he was unable to obtain the conditions agreed by Han Yunxian.
Now that King Qin has done this, he is relieved.
He summoned the military commanders to discuss the city's defense and recruited all the military commanders in the city to his residence.
Tang Tong directly told them that he wanted to surrender to the Qin army.
Most of the Ming army generals remained silent, and a small number of Tang Tong's confidants supported him.
A very small number of generals immediately stood up to oppose it.
Tang Tong directly asked his soldiers to arrest all the generals who opposed surrendering to the Ming army.
March 23, morning.
The four gates of Baoding City are wide open.
Tang Tong led the 20,000 Ming troops in the city out of the city and surrendered to the Qin army outside the city.