In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the Yellow River ran close to Langshan Mountain. The Wuga River in later generations was the mainstream of the Yellow River, and the mainstream of the Yellow River in later generations was only a tributary.
As the grassland vegetation was destroyed, the Alxa sand flow, driven by the northwest wind, invaded the Hetao Plain in large quantities through the gap between Langshan Mountain and Helan Mountain. The debris flow in Langshan Mountain also brought a large amount of sand and gravel. The superposition of the two phases
, causing the Yellow River to change its course, forming Wuliang Suhai, and the desert area expanded rapidly. This happened during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty.
During the Zhengde period, although Wuliangsuhai had not yet been formed, there were already two small riverside lakes, which were caused by the Yellow River flooding into low-lying areas.
The vegetation here is lush, with tamarisk and poplar trees everywhere, and countless fertile fields cultivated by the Han people. To the east and south of the small lake, the desert areas of later generations are still grasslands with rich water and grass.
Zhou Shangwen led his troops all the way north without encountering any resistance. Many old people from the Wulanhai tribe had already rushed to Ordos to join the war.
The deputy general didn't even bring any auxiliary troops, and naturally he had no food. He relied on a small number of cavalry to make raids and rob the weak old Mongolian women and children who had not yet evacuated.
The soldiers Zhou Shangwen brought with him were not many, but when they arrived at the Yellow River, they divided their troops into several groups. Each group had five hundred to one thousand men, and went to intercept the Yinshan passes such as Gaoque (ancient name of Qin and Han Dynasties), and led five
A hundred soldiers were placed at the northern end of the Shimen Ancient Road.
Zhou Shangwen looked up at the ancient road between the two mountains and couldn't help but murmured to himself: "If you don't teach Huma to cross the Yinshan Mountains, you won't teach Huma to cross the Yinshan Mountains!"
Although this man is a military commander, he is qualified to be admitted as a Jinshi if he is familiar with the classics and history. He is usually very proud, and the civil servants look down on him, and he also looks down on the civil servants. Even the governor of the border town is treated as a fool by him.
Since he was a cultured military commander, seeing this ancient Shimen Road naturally gave rise to endless reveries.
It was from here that General Meng Tian of the Qin Dynasty crossed mountains and ridges to build the northernmost Great Wall of Qin. Wang Zhaojun also went north from here, bidding farewell to his homeland and going to the Huns to make peace. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also used this ancient road to attack Mobei with his 180,000-strong army.
Listed on Taiwan... Too many heroic stories, all gathered on this Shimen Ancient Road!
To put it bluntly, this is the valley between Daqing Mountain and Wula Mountain. You can go directly from Baotou through the mountains to Guyang County, so it was also called "Bao-Gu Highway" hundreds of years later.
Zhou Shangwen embarked on the ancient road from the north end and passed several abandoned ancient cities along the way.
Although it is said to be an ancient city, it is actually a rammed earth castle that belongs to the ancient "stone gate barrier" defense system.
Choosing one of the most dangerous city obstacles, Zhou Shangwen stationed 500 troops here, and tens of thousands of troops came to attack. It would take at least ten days and a half to capture it. If the city obstacle was completely repaired, he would only need to station 1,000 troops.
It can make it difficult for an army of 100,000 to defeat it.
In the mid-Ming Dynasty, this place was not desolate and was full of lush trees.
Even Baotou, the other end of the ancient road, is still rich in water and grass. The original meaning of Baotou in Mongolian is "the land of deer".
Zhou Shangwen only stationed troops for half a day when he saw hundreds of Mongolians approaching. Some were young and strong, some were old and weak, and they had livestock and belongings, but there were only a few war horses. From the looks of it, they must be fleeing.
"Haha, Wang Shangshu wins!"
Zhou Shangwen laughed loudly, drew his sword and shouted: "My sons, Wang Shangshu has won a great victory. We are stationed here and cannot let a Mongolian traitor pass by!"
The gap in the city barrier could only accommodate three horses running abreast, and the Ming army had built up many earth, wood, and stone blocks.
Hundreds of Mongolians were instantly desperate and could only return along the mountain road, bypassing the Ula Mountain and heading north.
There are many mountain passes in the Yinshan Mountains. Zhou Shangwen has divided his troops to block the four passes on the Langshan Mountain. He also led his troops to block the most convenient Shimen Ancient Road. If the Mongols want to visit the Yinshan Mountains, they can only cross the desert from the northwest or bypass the Ula Mountains.
Walk northeast and browse the mountains (this area has been conquered by the Ordos tribe, but the local tribes are resentful and will definitely beat up the drowned dogs).
These few hundred Mongolians walked back for an hour, and then they met more than a thousand people fleeing north.
The total number of the two sides exceeded two thousand, so they decided not to leave and gathered troops there to prepare for the pass. By the next day, more than four thousand Mongolians had gathered here, along with a large number of livestock and goods, blocking the mountain road tightly.
The young and strong men of Mongolia were organized, and several war horses were blindfolded and stabbed in the buttocks to make the horses hit obstacles.
"shoot!"
Before a few war horses even got close, they were shot down by a hundred archers and turned into hedgehogs.
In order to escape to Mobei, these Mongolians had to fight desperately and rush towards the gap with their young heads. They were blocked by earth, wood and rocks, and were stabbed randomly by the Ming army's spears. Those who stayed behind became targets of archers.
At the end of the round of attacks, the Mongols left more than thirty corpses, while only one of the Ming soldiers was injured, being shot in the shoulder by a Mongolian bow and arrow.
Suddenly, another three to four thousand Mongolians came running.
These people were in a very embarrassed state. They didn't even bring livestock or large objects with them. It looked like they were being chased here.
"The Han soldiers are coming, hurry up!" the Mongolians who arrived later urged.
The Mongols who came first said: "There are Han soldiers in front of us and we can't get through!"
About eight thousand Mongolians were blocked here. They were in a dilemma and lost their minds. They all surrendered.
"Which general is in front?" asked the Ming army from the south.
Zhou Shangwen directed his men to tie up the prisoners, walked over and clasped his fists, saying, "Ningxia deputy commander-in-chief Zhou Shangwen."
"Guerrilla Yang Fang from the Brave Battalion (Leopard Fang New Army) has met General Zhou." A young general came over and said with cupped hands, "General Zhou is so capable that he actually blocked the Shimen Ancient Road."
Zhou Shangwen said: "I have blocked all the mountain passes in Langshan. If the Mongols want to flee north, they can only take a detour to the northeast and go to Siyang. Siyang grassland was originally the territory of Maoming's Anbu. In the past few years, the right-wing Mongolia
During the expedition to Mobei, we easily defeated the Maoming'an tribe. Before I came to Shimen Ancient Road, I had contact with the Maoming'an tribe. They were willing to surrender to the Ming Dynasty and help attack and kill the remnants of the Ordos tribe." (Note: The Maoming'an tribe in Siyang Caochang is just Maoming.
A branch of Abe.)
In other words, the Ordos tribe wanted to flee north, but the biggest opening was blocked by the conquered tribes.
When he heard that Zhou Shangwen had blocked all the mountain passes in the Yin Mountains to the west, Yang Fang immediately admired him and sighed: "General Zhou is really a famous general in the world!"
Zhou Shangwen smiled and asked: "How is the battle situation ahead?"
Yang Fang roughly said: "General Zhao Da (Yuan Da), the general of the Southern Liao Dynasty, led a surprise attack on the Tumote tribe with 3,000 cavalry. He killed the old generals of thousands of Tumote households and captured Bansheng City in Fengzhou. Wang Shangshu sent suspicious troops
Feigning an attack on Babaishi, he personally led the main force to the north and recaptured Dongsheng Left Guard City in one fell swoop. He then sent his troops to attack Dongsheng Right Guard City and fought a decisive battle outside the city with the main force of the Ordos tribe who hurried back. The Ordos tribe was so poor in skills that even the elderly and children fought on horseback.
, this is enough for 60,000 cavalry."
"The Ordos tribe alone has 60,000 cavalry?" Zhou Shangwen was greatly shocked.
Yang Fang smiled and said: "The old man rode his horse to the battlefield, how could it be less? But what about the 60,000 horsemen? We defeated them in one battle, and even the Mongolian Deputy Khan was captured alive on the battlefield."
Zhou Shangwen thought carefully about the war and couldn't help but sigh: "Wang Shangshu is indeed extraordinary, I am not as good as me!"
Yang Fang said: "The achievements of General Zhou's soldiers are also very great. They blocked all the Mongols. We might as well have more contacts in the future."
"Easy to say!" Zhou Shangwen also wanted to make friends with General Baofang and defeat that bastard Qiu Luan. His immediate boss was a complete mess except for corruption and taking credit.
Yang Fang climbed up the abandoned city wall and looked at the northern scenery. He laughed and said: "If we don't teach Huma how to cross the Yin Mountains, once this river is knocked down and the Great Wall and Xiongguan are built to block the gap, no Mongolians can even think of going south."
Zhou Shangwen said: "We still have to immigrate to the border area, and building city gates is also very expensive."
Yang Fang smiled and said: "Don't be afraid. The imperial court has cement and the city can be built much faster than before. Come on, General Zhou, let's take the prisoners back and I'll take you to see Wang Shangshu."
Zhou Shangwen asked in surprise: "General Yang is very familiar with Wang Shangshu?"
Yang Fang laughed: "My younger brother Yang Rui is Wang Shangshu's brother-in-law."