Chapter 360 359 Hetao

Chapter 360 359 Hetao

"Master Gao Gonggao is here."

At this time, footsteps sounded outside the door, as if someone had entered the yard, and Lu Bu's words at the door were heard.

High arch?

What is he doing here at this time?

Wei Guangde was suspicious. Shouldn't he be in the Imperial College watching the students there?

Then he thought of Zhang Juzheng in the pavilion. Wei Guangde smiled casually. It seemed that these scholars were panicked when they heard about the fight.

Sure enough, when Gao Gong entered the door, he hurriedly asked Wei Guangde: "What do you think of the Xuan Mansion? Can the soldiers and horses of Xuanda and Shanxi withstand it?"

In Gao Gong's view, even if Xuanda's troops could not defeat the cavalry led by Anda Khan, there should still be no problem as a defender of the city.

Unlike others, he did not think that Jizhen's army and horses should participate in the battle. After all, they were the main force defending the capital. If the losses in Xuanda were too great, the safety of the capital would be in doubt.

Therefore, what Gao Gong thought at the imperial meeting at that time was that he would rather mobilize troops from Yansui, Ningxia and other places to support Xuanda than to easily dispatch the Jizhen army, even if it cost money and food.

Because even if the Anda army can defeat the Xuan army in Xuanfu, it will definitely be a battle and heavy losses. When the Jizhen army and the army from Yansui and other places surround them, Anda Khan will inevitably make the same mistakes as before, and he can only Escape from the Great Wall in embarrassment.

But if the Jizhen army participates in the Xuanfu battle and the losses are too great, Anda Khan, who has no scruples, will come to Beijing again.

By then, the soldiers and horses from the nine sides will definitely not be able to rescue him, so they can only mobilize the soldiers and horses from the mainland, such as Shandong and other places to guard the capital.

He had already seen how powerful those guard troops were in the 29th year of Jiajing.

However, it was the first time he participated in such a high-level meeting. Gao Gong just thought about it in his heart, but did not dare to speak out.

Wei Guangde stood up, sat down with Gao Gong, and ordered Lu Bu to make tea again and bring it to the table.

After Lu Bu brought tea and left, Wei Guangde asked: "Brother Su Qing, what's going on? There is a Governor of Xuan in the Xuan Mansion, so there is no need to worry about it being handled by the Ministry of War."

Wei Guangde did not know that Gao Gong had just come out of Xiyuan and had been included in the list of members of the Imperial Council by Emperor Jiajing. He only thought that he came to him because he was worried about the safety of the capital.

Thinking about it, his colleagues in the Hanlin Academy all came to him to ask his opinion, so Gao Gong probably came here for this reason.

"Have you read the urgent report from Xuanfu?"

Gao Gong's question was not without purpose. In fact, there was nothing confidential about the memorials of the Ming Dynasty.

When the memorial arrived at the General Affairs Department, it was originally necessary to make a copy for the archives. Many officials in the General Affairs Department had good memories or found the memorial interesting, so they often copied an extra copy privately and then circulated it.

Of course, the reason why no one stopped this kind of thing is because nothing entering the General Affairs Department has to be kept secret. Many of these memorials were directly published in Di newspapers and published in all counties across the country.

"Looked at it."

Boss Wei Guangde answered honestly. He didn't read it at first, and he didn't ask Lu Bu to find it and copy it. He just told him the main content and let him understand it, so that he wouldn't be unable to pick up the conversation when his colleagues were talking freely.

But this time when he was pulled to the pavilion, Wei Guangde read Ge Jin's memorial without wanting to read it.

The urgent report sent by Ge Jin was only so good, at least that's how Wei Guangde saw it.

Those who serve as the governors of Xuanda and Shanxi, also known as the governors of the three sides, naturally think of the worst in a foreseeable war.

Just like this memorial, it directly stated that Ye Bushou of the Xuanfu and the detective horses of the Anda Department fought many times outside the Great Wall, and only then did they get the news that a large number of soldiers and horses gathered.

Since the Anda tribe had gathered the main force in the tribe, Ge Jin expected a war and was worried about Anda Khan's ambitions. This was also his duty as the governor of the three sides, and he was quite "unconcerned for the general". To win, consider defeat first so that you can win a hundred battles without danger."

As for the request in the memorial to mobilize troops and horses from Jizhen to assist in defense, it was actually an early warning. Once the Xuanfu was defeated, Anda Khan might target the capital.

Wei Guangde didn't know whether the Xuanfu could withstand the attack of the Anda tribe, but he knew that the troops of Anda Khan should not be enough to threaten the safety of the capital.

Tens of thousands of people may be able to add "ten" in front of it, but that would require mobilizing young and old to participate in the war, and the combat power will not increase much, but only increase the number.

Wei Guangde had already known before that the tribal people temporarily recruited by the Tatar cavalry actually had limited combat power, at least not much higher than the Ming Dynasty guard army.

Therefore, at this moment, he could still chat with Gao Gong in the presence of the old man.

"Aren't you worried that the Tatars will break through the Xuanfu and attack the capital?"

He frowned and asked quickly.

"The border wall of Xuan Mansion is very weak, but the city wall of Ji Town is not so easy to attack."

Wei Guangde also gave the answer immediately.

"But what will happen if the Jizhen army enters the Xuan Mansion to join the battle and the situation becomes dire?"

Gao Gong still asked.

Hearing what Gao Gong said, Wei Guangde immediately became alert. Gao Gong's official position was much higher than his, and he knew more about the court's decisions. Could it be that he came here after knowing some news.

"Brother Su Qing, what do you mean by this? The memorial did not allow the Jizhen army to enter the Xuan Mansion to participate in the battle. It only said to assist in defense. In fact, it is to strengthen the vigilance of the Jizhen Great Wall, and at most to station some walls in advance for prevention."

Wei Guangde said suspiciously.

"Today's discussion, the Ministry of War is worried that the Tatars will break through the charred capital of Xuanfu, and proposes to deploy troops and horses in Miyun and Changping, and enter Xuanfu to assist in the battle if necessary. At the same time, it also sends an official document to Yansui and Ningxia towns to mobilize troops and horses to be ready to support Xuanfu at any time. .”

Gao Gong said.

"Is it necessary to have such a big battle?"

After hearing Gao Gong's words, Wei Guangde immediately exclaimed.

Immediately, after his emotions stabilized, he looked at Gao Gong again.

Gao Gong is now in his forties and fifties, and he is considered a mature and prudent person. He does not seem to be joking about this matter. Wei Guangde hesitated and said, "Where did this news come from?"

Therefore, Gao Gong told Wei Guangde the contents of the imperial meeting that had just ended in Xiyuan in detail, and Wei Guangde was also dumbfounded.

Of course, what shocked him was not the decision made by the imperial meeting, but how Gao Gong was summoned to attend such a meeting, and what followed was a burst of ecstasy in his heart.

The bet was right.

What Gao Gong thought about at the meeting, Wei Guangde naturally thought about it now, that is, Emperor Jiajing began to train the team of Prince Yu's Mansion, so that they would gradually get involved in the government affairs of the court, instead of just doing it as in the past. Wandering around the trivial matters of the palace.

In fact, such preparations started from Gao Gong's promotion. Perhaps Emperor Jiajing had already been making plans, but it was not obvious at the time. After all, Gao Gong was promoted after completing the nine-year examination.

When Wei Guangde thought of this, his face showed it unconsciously, and it was strange to be seen by Gao Gong.

"Guangde, do you have a plan to defeat the enemy? You might as well tell it and listen. If it is really feasible, we will go to the cabinet immediately to find Mr. Yan Ge."

Gao Gong misunderstood and thought that the joyful expression on Wei Guangde's face was that he had discovered a flaw in An Da's army.

However, he also knew that military matters should not be seen so easily. Even those so-called famous generals mostly discovered the loopholes of their opponents when they faced the battle. So what is "strategic planning and decisive victory"? Thousands of miles away" is more of a deification of the superior person on the winning side.

After hearing Gao Gong's words, Wei Guangde immediately calmed down, knowing that it was forbidden to show joy at this time.

"When it prospers, the people suffer; when it dies, the people suffer!"

This is the spirit that a scholar should show, but it is not what I am now.

But now, Wei Guangde will naturally not tell what he was thinking before, otherwise he will only be looked down upon by Gao Gong. How to proceed is the key point.

Wei Guangde lowered his head and pretended to think for a while before saying: "If the imperial court really wants to mobilize Yansui and Ningxia soldiers and horses, it would be better to send them directly into the Hetao area to sweep. At this time, the main force of the Anda Department is outside Xuanfu, and the army has left the Great Wall. It's no big deal.

Xuan Mansion should fortify its walls and clear the country, and the army should guard the city and various passes, not giving the Tatars the slightest chance to plunder money and goods.

Although our army cannot use this to capture the Hetao area in one fell swoop, it can attack the strength of the Mongolian Tatars.

The Hetao was attacked. I thought that even if Anda Khan was unwilling to give in, he would have to send a large army to support us. Our army's victory rate in the Xuanfu battle would be greatly improved. "

The only thing Wei Guangde could think of in a short period of time was to "encircle Wei and save Zhao". The Hetao area was rich in water and grass, and I heard that a large number of cattle and sheep lived there. Didn't Anda Khan want to enter the pass and plunder it?

You come in from Xuanfu, and I will go north from Ningxia and Yansui into the grassland and plunder the cattle and sheep in the Hetao area. This can also distract Anda Khan from the few soldiers he has.

At that time, with the Xuan army's rich combat experience against the Anda tribe for a long time, they only need to hold on to the city and implement strong defenses to clear the country. The Anda tribe will not be able to grab supplies, so they will naturally have no choice but to retreat.

Wei Guangde still firmly believed that the tens of thousands of troops in Anda Khan's hands were not enough to threaten the safety of the capital.

"The Ministry of War said at the meeting that Xuanfu delayed the Tatar attack, and the troops and horses of Ji Town, Yansui Town, and Ningxia Town moved east and west to encircle Anda Khan. Is it feasible?"

Gao Gong did not evaluate the battle plan proposed by Wei Guangde to sweep the Hetao area, but asked Wei Guangde whether the war prediction made by the Ministry of War at the imperial meeting was appropriate.

"The army from Ji Town can arrive at the battlefield in time, but the troops from Yansui and Ningxia Town may not be able to make it in time."

Wei Guangde shook his head after thinking about it and said: "Instead of letting them run around in the pass, it is better to let them go out and plunder the Tatars' assets."

Seeing that Gao Gong still seemed disapproving, Wei Guangde's heart moved.

In the Hetao area, Zeng Xian was killed for this reason, and Xia Yan was also implicated. Could it be that the Hetao has now become a taboo in Ming Dynasty official circles.

However, Wei Guangde still felt that what he mentioned should be fine.

Zeng Xian wanted to regain the Hetao area and regain control over it. The result was that not only did he have to defeat the Mongolian Tatars at that time, but he also needed to continue to invest military power to maintain control there.

What Wei Guangde mentioned was not to recover the Hetao, but only to loot the Hetao area.

Does it mean that the Tatars are allowed to enter the pass to plunder, but the Ming army is not allowed to go out to harvest grass and grain?

When Wei Guangde was in Xuanfu, he had heard that the Ming army had done a lot of hunting grass and valleys in the past. At that time, the Ming army was very powerful.

Even when the military strength was weak, border generals often led troops to sneak out of the border to plunder cattle, sheep and treasures, but the scope of raids and the scale of troop dispatches were not as large as before.

However, at this time, Wei Guangde thought about Gao Gong's previous plan of the Ministry of War, and felt that it would be better to pour a basin of cold water on him to wake him up, so he continued: "Jizhen is close to Xuanfu, so support is available in time.

However, the soldiers and horses in Yansui and Ningxia have a long way to go. Even if they arrive at the battlefield, they are too exhausted and unable to participate in the battle. They also consume a lot of food and grass in vain.

Not only that, the main force of the Anda Division is here, which is tens of thousands of powerful soldiers. When fighting with them, it is not advisable not to first consider dividing their forces and weakening their strength, but to concentrate their forces for a decisive battle.

To be honest, I saw it in the battle at Xuanfu. If Anda Khan had led more men and horses, or if there were 10,000 more elite cavalry, the battle in Baoan Prefecture would not have been fought, at least in the Datong Army. Don't dare to fight until the main force arrives. "

"How does the combat strength of the Datong and Xuanfu armies compare with that of the Anda tribe?"

After Wei Guangde finished speaking, Gao Gong suddenly asked: "The Ming Dynasty has a slight advantage in the elite cavalry, but the number of people and horses is pitiful, and most of them are personal soldiers around the generals.

The fighting strength of the soldiers was weaker than that of the Tatars, but if Anda Khan brought all the main force, the elite cavalry would number 40,000, and at least 200,000 Ming troops would have to be assembled to fight. "

Wei Guangde counted Anda Khan's headquarters and the elite cavalry of Huang Taiji and Qingtai Ji together. According to what Ma Fang said at the beginning, there should be only this many. There are more than 40,000 to 50,000 Tatars left, and their combat strength is only about seven or seven. It looks like 80,000 Ming troops.

With the calculation in mind, Wei Guangde gave Gao Gong a detailed analysis of what Ma Fang had said.

After hearing this, Gao Gong understood that if the Ming army could gather together the elites, if they forcibly took away the command of the soldiers from the generals, let alone whether the generals would cause trouble in front of the formation, even if they did gather them together, I'm afraid There are only more than 10,000 people, and even 20,000 people may not be able to gather them together.

These people may be able to defeat the Tatars in a single fight, but they have no experience in large cavalry operations, so their strength may be affected.

As for mobilizing other Ming troops to participate in the war, according to the combat strength table given by Wei Guangde, at least 300,000 troops must be prepared to deal with it.

Of course, there are people in the important town of Jiubian, but the mobilization of so many people and horses consumes a huge amount of materials, and the court simply cannot afford it.

Relatively speaking, Wei Guangde's proposal of Yansui and Ningxia towns sending troops to plunder the Hetao seems to be more cost-effective if one really wants to settle accounts.

Unconsciously, Gao Gong also began to calculate the gains and losses.

But if there is a loophole, can I mention it?

As Wei Guangde had thought before, after Emperor Jiajing executed Xia Yan and Zeng Xian, marching into the Hetao became a taboo topic in official circles.

The blood of a three-sided governor is scary enough, but it also needs to be coupled with the chief minister of the cabinet who has become an official.

Do you want to bring this matter up with Mr. Ge?

Gao Gong was also a little unsure. The key was that he was in a humble position now, and Wei Guangde was even more speechless.

Gao Gong stood up a little anxiously and walked back and forth in the check-in room. Wei Guangde could only look down at the tea in front of him to avoid being dazzled.

At this time, in the Datong Governor's Yamen, the meeting between Li Wenjin, Liu Han and Yu Dayou was coming to an end.