The grassland outside the city has turned into a sea of blood, and the ground for miles around is littered with corpses of men and horses, all the work of the Tatars.
In the previous month's attack, the Arutai father and his son did not use their direct lineage of the Tatar army, but used the troops of the vassal tribes to attack the city. The Mongols did not build siege equipment, only some rough ladders, using the most cruel ant attachments.
In the siege method, the Tatar cavalry waved their weapons and drove the poor men from various tribes behind, as well as the captured Han men to attack the city. Anyone who was slightly delayed would be shot by the Tatar cavalry behind them.
, To advance is to die, to retreat is to die, the poor young men of all races can only risk their lives, and they are rushing towards the city in one wave after another.
Under the command of Baoyin, the defenders on the city have been resolutely and forcefully resisting the enemy's attack. They poured down everything they could throw, and when all their arrows were shot, they poured boiling water, boiling oil, and rolling stones down.
After all the wood was smashed, stones and wooden beams were removed from the houses and smashed down. The strong men of all ethnic groups who were driven to attack the city fell down from the ladder one by one without any covering. The pile of corpses under the city became more and more
The accumulation became thicker and thicker, reaching a height of one foot at its thickest point, which gave the strong men behind the siege a stepping stone, and the distance between them and the city head was shortened a lot during the siege.
Under the banner in the distance, Arutai and his son Shenigan were sitting on horseback, looking expressionlessly at the brutal siege ahead. The walls of the King's City had been dyed black and red with blood.
But Arutai and his son were not moved at all, and did not even take it to heart.
"Did the Ming Dynasty really send reinforcements?" Aru Tai asked his son in a low voice with a worried look on his face.
"Yes, father," Shi Niqian replied in a deep voice: "The Ming Dynasty's Duke Wang Xian led more than 100,000 troops and arrived in Zhangjiakou three days ago..."
"They arrived in Zhangjiakou three days ago?" Arutai was startled and said in a panic: "So they may appear in front of us at any time?"
"No." Shi Nigan shook his head and said, "The Ming army's marching speed is extremely slow, only forty or fifty miles a day. It should only be halfway through the march now."
"The people of the Ming Dynasty are the most cunning, and the prince of the country, Wang Xian, is as cunning as a fox. He is the one who can play with the old thief Mahamu," Arutai said with a solemn expression: "Beware of their sudden acceleration.
, caught us off guard."
"Isn't that playing into our hands?" Shi Nigan laughed and said, "The reason why our Tatar cavalry is not used to attack the city is to use it for reinforcements?"
"That's true, but in the end, it's better to be cautious." Arutai said solemnly: "Let Abu Zian's scouts monitor them closely. Once they get close, they must report them as soon as possible!"
"Father, don't worry." Shi Nigan responded softly, but in his heart he was quite disdainful and said to himself: "Father was frightened by the Han people after all, and he can no longer be called a hero on the grassland."
Arutai didn't know what his son was thinking, so he suddenly turned his gaze to the sky and pointed at a small white dot among the white clouds and blue sky.
Immediately, a Tatar warrior opened his bow and nocked an arrow with the string like the full moon, and shot an arrow towards the white dot.
The long arrow shot straight into the sky with a whistling sound, and the white dots flying in the sky fell in response.
Another Tatar warrior came forward on horseback. Before the white dot hit the ground, he grabbed it in his hand, then rode back and presented it to the grand master with both hands.
Arutai and his son took a closer look and saw that it was a white homing pigeon that had been shot through the chest.
"A small skill can hide it from my father's eyes!" Shi Nigan did not praise the Tatar warrior's archery skills, but only flattered his father. It turns out that there are people among the Mongolians who are sweet-mouthed and sword-loving.
"Hmph..." Alutai looked reserved and could not hide his pride as he said, "I have been hunting on the grassland for decades. Nothing flying in the sky or running on the ground can escape my two ears!"
Shi Nigan removed the small bamboo tube tied to the pigeon's leg, took out the letter paper inside, unfolded it and handed it to his father.
Arutai took the letter and saw that there were only four words on it: "Master Wang has arrived"! It was obviously sent to the city.
Even though it only has four words, if people in the city see it, their morale will definitely be boosted!
"It's a pity that they can't receive it..." Shi Nigan and the leaders laughed, and Shi Nigan even louder said: "Send the order! Let the children be more vigilant, and never let a homing pigeon fly into the city!"
Before Shi Nigan finished speaking, he saw Arutai's expression change, and he suddenly looked up at the eastern sky.
Shi Nigan and others also followed Arutai's gaze blankly, and saw countless white spots suddenly rushing out of the blue sky and white clouds!
There were countless homing pigeons, at least two to three hundred by visual inspection, flying over from a distance, with an overwhelming momentum...
"Shameless, to do this..." Arutai's face turned red, feeling as if he had been mercilessly ridiculed.
"Shoot, shoot quickly!" Shi Nigan roared, and the Tatar warriors opened their bows and arrows to shoot the pigeons flying overhead! Even Shi Nigan and the leaders joined in, wanting to shoot all the pigeons.
Come down...
The Mongolians' bow skills were indeed powerful. When the bowstring sounded, countless arrows flew into the sky. The pigeons were immediately hit, and the pigeons that were hit by the arrows dropped like dumplings.
But there were too many pigeons, and many of them managed to fly out of the range of the bows and arrows, and flew to the King's City. They circled around the city for several times, and the pigeons fell down one after another.
Baoyin was dressed in silver armor, looking up at the pigeons in the sky, slowly raising her arm, and a pure white homing pigeon landed lightly on the back of her hand.
Baoyin gently touched the nape of the carrier pigeon's neck, then untied the bamboo tube on the pigeon's leg and took out the letter paper in the tube. Then Baoyin excitedly announced to the Mongolian and Han warriors around her: "The imperial court
The reinforcements have entered the river! Governor Wang personally led the army to reinforce us!"
"Ouch! Long live! Long live!" The Mongolian and Han warriors at the top of the city burst into earth-shattering cheers. After fighting hard for more than a month, they finally had the hope of victory!
With a smile, Baoyin looked at his subordinates who were jumping and cheering on the top of the city. He knew that now he no longer had to worry about their morale. Thinking of this, Baoyin turned his attention to the Tatar army outside the city. Obviously, the enemy had already been there.
Knowing this news, I wonder if they will retreat despite the difficulties, lift the siege and withdraw their troops?
"Wouldn't that be too advantageous for them?!" Baoyin bit his red lips with his teeth and stared at the banner of the Tatar Grand Master. The losses in the Hetao this time were really tragic. Thirty to forty thousand Mongolian men were killed.
, countless people’s homes were destroyed, and all the years of development of the entire Hetao were wiped out... This account must be settled! The Tatars must not be allowed to retreat all like this!
The white doves were like snow, which seemed to have greatly affected the Tatars' momentum. For the rest of the day, the Tatars' offensive was weak, and they even lost interest in driving the slaves to their death. The sun had just turned westward.
, Arutai hastily ordered the withdrawal of troops.
Hearing the horn sound of withdrawing troops, the driven men of all races retreated in the blink of an eye, ten times faster than they were advancing. They quickly retreated to the Tatar camp, where
, their wives and children had long been looking forward to it... The Tatars drove the tribes that had been surrendered by force, and the plundered population went out together. In addition to taking women and children as hostages, they forced the men to fight for them, and they did not dare to threaten them.
In addition to escaping, the Mongolian warriors can also vent their anger. This is an old trick passed down from Temujin's time...
The battered women and children stared nervously at the blood-stained faces, begging for one of their men to appear... Unfortunately, every day, thousands of men go out and never come back. Those lucky ones
The man who returned returned to his family, hugged his wife and children tightly, and breathed heavily. His eyes were full of joy, and he was glad that he had lived one more day... Although he didn't know whether he would live or die tomorrow.
At least I can be reunited with my wife and children today.
As for those poor people who didn't wait for their men in the end, they either hugged their heads and cried, or sobbed, or stood there with expressionless faces... In fact, they didn't make any difference in how they reacted, because in this world, there is no way.
No one paid attention to their pain.
Some quick-thinking Han people picked up the homing pigeons that were shot dead on the city during the siege. They already knew the news that the Ming army was about to arrive, so they softly comforted the sobbing family members and said: "If you have to endure it for a few more days, maybe it won't take a few more days."
We will be saved..."
The family members looked at them incomprehensively, and then they whispered the news they had received. Soon it was spread from one person to another, and finally everyone knew it. The atmosphere in the military camp became more joyful than ever before, even those who had lost their loved ones.
The family seems to feel that the sadness is not so strong...
Even the soldiers in the side camp knew the news. The Tatars in the main camp would naturally not be kept in the dark. However, contrary to the joy in the side camp, the atmosphere in the main camp became very solemn. The upper-level leaders,
The soldiers at the lower level couldn't help but whisper, discussing when the Ming army would appear at the foot of Daxiang City, and wondering whether the Grand Master would leave or fight next?
There is no doubt that the pressure that the Ming army has exerted on the Tatars for decades cannot be completely reversed by a victory at the Tru River. These Mongolians who were born after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, even though they can show their teeth and claws on the outside, but in their hearts they are against the Ming Dynasty.
The fear is difficult to erase.
Everyone looked at the big tent in the center of the camp, waiting for Arutai's final decision...
In the grand master's tent, in addition to Alutai and Shinigan, there was also Alutai's second son Abu Zian. Abu Zian was so mighty and majestic that he was known as the first warrior of the Tatars. Although he was not as thoughtful as his eldest son Shignigan.
, but gained the trust of Arutai and ordered him to command 40,000 Tatar cavalry to defend against the possible Ming army on the eastern front.
Arutai also recalled his second son, who was leading the army, back to the Chinese army's tent, apparently to decide whether the army should stay or go.
Unexpectedly, after the brothers waited for a long time, Arutai did not speak. He only kept a gloomy face and stared outside the tent...