Chapter 999 Decisions from Samarkand City - Mongolian Cannon Fodder?
"The combat effectiveness of the Ming army is not weak. As long as the regular army increases to be similar to our army, even if they cannot defeat our army, they have the advantage of being the defensive side and are likely to drag the war into a stalemate. If the war is dragged into a stalemate, we will lose this battle."
The army’s hope of victory is very small.”
Timur did not go into details about what he said after that, but everyone present was not a slut. Of course, they knew that the army of the Timur Khanate was far away from the rear and was already at a disadvantage. If the war entered a stalemate, it would eventually be dragged down.
"With the blessing of God, the Great Khan will be invincible in all attacks and battles. He will definitely be able to defeat the Ming army and capture Hami." A general suddenly began to flatter him.
"God teaches us that when we fall into a state of pride and complacency, we will be closer to failure. Although belief in God will make us more courageous when facing the enemy, we cannot think that the enemy is useless." Timur said.
I didn't accept his flattery this time.
After saying this, he no longer paid attention to the flattering general, but asked again: "Generals, do you still have any questions?"
Seeing no one answered, Timur stood up and said loudly: "For this Eastern Expedition, we will use 200,000 main soldiers to maintain logistics along the way. When we reach the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, we will also have 300,000 people who can be used as cannon fodder.
A total of 500,000 troops were sent."
"This is the largest force ever used in an expedition. No one can resist it. My dear generals, go down and prepare for the victory we are about to win."
"Allah bless the Khan." Everyone stood up and saluted, and then left in twos and threes.
Timur sat down again and shouted loudly: "Pirmahama, don't leave yet, I have something to tell you."
But after most people had left, he found that a total of three people had not left the main hall, and had no intention of leaving. He looked at the two people who had not stayed, and asked: "Yesbu, Shaha"
Lu, what are you two doing here?"
"I have something to report to the Great Khan." The two of them said in unison.
"If you have something to tell me, just come with me to the room where I usually deal with things." Timur said, stood up and walked out through the small door he just walked in. The three of them quickly followed.
Shaharul followed Pir Mahama, staring closely at the figure of his nephew. He was not surprised that Timur would determine his successor before he conquered the Ming Dynasty. Timur is seventy years old this year, although he looks
The body is still relatively healthy, but the journey to the east is far away. According to Timur's personality, it is very likely that he will go to the battlefield to command in person. These will greatly consume his health. Although no one dares to say it, in the end, Timur
Whether we can see the Ming army or not is something no one can guarantee.
But, ‘Why is Pir Mahama the heir!’ Shaharul thought in his heart. In his opinion, Pir Mahama is not outstanding and is not worthy of being the ruler of this vast country.
'In this Eastern Expedition, I must perform well and win more battles to win the support of more generals, let my father see my talents, and let him have the idea of making me his heir; even if this plan fails, as long as
It would also be useful to get the support of more generals.'
Just as he was thinking about it, he suddenly felt a lot darker. He looked up and found that he had arrived in a very small room. There was only a desk, a chair and a sofa in the room. On the south wall, there was a picture from the west.
A map of the Mediterranean Sea and Qinghai during the winter solstice. There are several books neatly placed on the desk.
The eunuch bowed to Timur, quickly lit a lamp to make the room brighter, then brought two more chairs, and walked out in small steps.
Timur sat on the sofa and said to them: 'Sit down.'
After everyone sat down, he asked his fourth son in a deep voice: "Shaharu, what do you want to tell me?"
Shaharul saw that they were all his own people at this time, and the only outsider, Jesbu, was also a general that Timur trusted very much, so he said: "Father, is the target of this Eastern Expedition really the Ming Dynasty?"
Timur was stunned for a moment and did not answer. Pirmahama turned sideways and said, "Fourth uncle, what nonsense are you talking about? Grandpa has already said in front of everyone that he will conquer the Ming Dynasty. How could it be otherwise?"
Timur still didn't answer, but turned around and asked Jesb again: "Is this the same thing you want to tell me when you stay?"
"Great Khan, I have two things to say to the Great Khan, one of which is this question." Jesb replied.
Timur smiled and said: "The ultimate goal is of course to destroy the Ming Kingdom, a country composed of Khitan people, just like what Xue Chan Khan (Kublai Khan) did back then."
"But father, I have carefully asked people who have been to the Ming Dynasty. The northwest of the Ming Dynasty is barren and it is impossible to provide food for hundreds of thousands of people crossing the border. It is not possible to capture all the cattle, sheep and horses of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate.
If we don't bring enough food, I'm afraid the army will collapse due to lack of food before it reaches Lanzhou." Shaharul said hurriedly.
He had carefully studied the situation in the northwest of the Ming Dynasty and knew that the Hexi Corridor was even poorer than the Eastern Chagatai Khanate. Counting the total population of military households, it was not much. Food had always been transported from further east. Fortunately, they still had rivers to help with transportation.
.But it was obviously impossible for the place they occupied to receive food shipped from the east.
"I did not say that we would march along the Hexi Corridor." Timur smiled and said, "If you think about what I said, I only said that I would capture Hami. I never said that I would attack the Ming Dynasty from the Hexi Corridor." Shaharul knew.
He knew about the matter earlier than Shaharul, so how could he make a battle plan to march from the Hexi Corridor.
"Aren't you going to go through the Hexi Corridor?" Shaharul was stunned for a moment, thinking about the situation in the east, and said, "March from the Mongolian grasslands? Or march from the Qinghai grasslands?"
"My idea is to capture Hami, rest there for a while, then go north to the Mongolian grassland, subdue the local Mongols, and let them go south with our army to attack the Kaiping Guards of the Ming Dynasty, and then defeat the Ming Dynasty after capturing the Kaiping Guards.
The Great Wall and occupied Beiping City."
"Beiping City has always been a strategic location for the Khitan people in the north. Once they capture it, they will have no danger of defending it all the way to the Yellow River. But at this time, the Yellow River has changed its course and went south to capture another river called the Huaihe River.
The mouth of the river."
"Our army will quickly occupy Hebei and Shandong. These two provinces were not very fertile places in the Ming Dynasty, but they are enough for our army to fully rest and recuperate. Then we will go south across the Yellow River, seize Huainan, and then go south across the Yangtze River.
After capturing the capital of the Ming Dynasty, victory in this battle was established." Timur said very confidently.
If a civil and military official from the Ming Dynasty heard what Timur said, he would loudly rebuke him for his wishful thinking. The Ming Dynasty would never be defeated so easily by him; but the three people present firmly believed that Timur was the best in the world in leading troops.
People will not doubt that Timur can easily win.
However, some people still raised questions. "The Great Khan, with the strength of the Mongolians who stayed in the Mongolian grasslands, is definitely not his opponent. But in the vast grasslands, there are so few Mongolians, and everyone is riding a horse. They can escape, but our army
It is a mixed army composed of infantry and cavalry. It is very likely that the Mongols will not be found on the grasslands. Our army cannot delay too much on the Mongolian grasslands, otherwise, after the Ming army strengthens their guard on the Great Wall they built to guard against the northern nomads,
It will become more difficult to go south and capture Beiping City."
"Of course no one can compare with the Great Khan in fighting with troops, but no matter how skilled the chef is, there is no way to make pancakes in the absence of wheat. After all, the Ming army is fighting on the mainland, and it is easy to replenish soldiers. If our army falls into the trap of mincing meat,
It is difficult to win the final victory in a machine-like war," Jesus preached.
"That's why I want to conquer the Mongols. The Mongols are the best cannon fodder."
Just as Jesb was about to continue saying, 'But how can we make the Mongols willing to be cannon fodder?', he heard Timur say: "Jesb, of course I know your doubts. If it were said before, I was not sure that the Mongols would be willing to serve as cannon fodder."