The construction site opposite the Public House of Duke Wei was in full swing. Palaces and pavilions rose from the ground, looking magnificent and magnificent. A small lake for boating, an island in the middle of the lake, and a rockery had begun to take shape.
Xuanming Palace, which occupied an area of land and occupied half of the land, was demolished by the furious Emperor Zhengde. All the materials were converted into silver and used on this nunnery. The converted silver was used to rebuild the houses. The people who were driven out of the capital by Liu Jin and had nowhere to live or lived with their whole family in a small house welcomed it.
Due to the ready-made materials, the construction of the nunnery progressed rapidly. Wei Bin was very busy. After the fall of Liu Jin, this eunuch, who had a close relationship with Liu Jin, was very cautious in his work in order to make up for his position in the emperor's heart. With him supervising the construction on the construction site all day, how could the foremen not work hard?
Due to the war in Hebei and Shandong, many refugees fled to the capital. It was difficult to ensure the security of the capital. Moreover, the weather was getting hotter. A large number of refugees entered the capital. Once a plague broke out, it would be no small matter. However, if the refugees were not settled, it would be a dereliction of duty by the imperial court. Moreover, it was difficult to guarantee that the desperate refugees would not cause trouble.
Under Cheng Qiyun's instruction, Wei Bin requested to see the emperor and asked to move all the refugees to the western suburbs. The young and strong laborers could join the construction army. The women and children could also do the work of planting flowers and grass. Some of them could also be arranged to work as temporary workers for the landlords nearby. In this way, a large number of cheap laborers could be employed. They would have work to do and food to eat. They would not cause trouble.
Zhengde thought it was Wei Bin's idea and looked at him in a new light. He even praised him. Wei Bin was so happy that he scratched his ears and cheeks. When he saw Cheng Qiyun, he became more respectful. At this moment, he was busy at the construction site. The back garden of the Public House of Duke Wei was also busy.
Gao Wenxin had married into the Yang House. Since her cousin was studying at the Imperial College, Gao Wenlan moved to the city to take care of him. As a result, the original back garden was empty. Han Youniang ordered people to tear down the low wall and vacate the three rooms in the rear courtyard. She arranged for Qiyun and her maidservants to live in, and also gave her a few maids to order around.
She didn't live in the guest room or study room, but a separate room in the back garden. Han Youniang's intention was obvious. How could Cheng Qiyun, with her exquisite mind, not understand? Even though she was cunning, other than having Yang Ling in her heart, she still respected Han Youniang from the bottom of her heart.
What was Yang Ling's current status? What was Han Youniang's identity? Even her son was the emperor's adopted son, His Royal Highness. The Yang family was already the new nobility in the capital. Since Han Youniang was willing to express such a gesture, regardless of whether it was successful or not, what she cared about was that Han Youniang didn't discriminate against her. Naturally, she was grateful.
Cheng Qiyun was rich. Not to mention that she controlled a huge amount of wealth that could rival a country, she could even use it to raise an army at any time. Even the private money she had accumulated in the past was more than enough to buy a hall of the size of the Public House of Duke Wei. However, if she wanted to have a piece of land in the Yang House, without Han Youniang's approval, it would be impossible.
This house was given by Han Youniang, but the house and the decoration of the courtyard were single-handedly done by Cheng Qiyun. In her field of vision, the layout of the hall and courtyard was naturally elegant and generous, standing out from the masses. This small residence was actually full of ingenuity and had a unique charm. Even Gao Wenxin, Yu Tang Chun and the other women who had seen a lot of things could not help but gasp in admiration.
The study room was an exquisite warm room. The windows were remade and almost doubled in size. The lighting was excellent. When there was sufficient sunlight, the room was brightly lit, but the light was soft and not dazzling. At this moment, Cheng Qiyun was sitting in front of the rosewood desk in front of the window. On her left was a stack of documents, on her right was glossy ink. A red sandalwood cowhorn brush was placed on a brush stand within reach.
A small note slowly closed. Cheng Qiyun frowned and pondered for a moment. She said, "Ling Er, pass this note to the accounting room to record the detailed accounts. Then transfer it to the general accounting room to remit the money. The money must be transferred as soon as possible and immediately start to buy grain. The imperial court wants to collect grain from Shaanxi and other inland areas for transportation to the east. Because Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong are all rioting with horse thieves, they must be transported by river and river out of the Eastern Sea, and then by sea to Shandong.
The imperial court orders the purchase of grain, loading it into wagons for transportation to the south, and then by river, river, and sea. It has to go through many yamen and many layers of procedures. Not only is it time-consuming and laborious, the cost is also very high. We have ready-made businesses and shops to purchase grain, we have carts to transport water, we even have our own docks and warehouses. If we take over, compared to the imperial court, we can save at least fifteen percent of the money. Moreover, the speed will be at least half a month faster.
The imperial court is short of money, they will not be unable to calculate this account. Our business people are currently active in the Ministry of Revenue. The Minister of Revenue Liu Zhong has just been appointed and wants to do something. We only want five percent of the profit and save ten percent of the silver for the imperial court. As long as he considers it a little, he will certainly agree to this condition.
However, once the news is out, other big business people will certainly act upon hearing it. At least the price of grain in Shaanxi will be raised. The earlier we act, the more money we can earn. Taking this opportunity, we can also straighten out the transportation channels from the inland to the coast, and take the opportunity to raise the reputation of our grain business. We can compete with the mainland's water transportation scale. "
She looked at the back of the chair and said with a sweet smile, "The imperial court will definitely not give us any silver. Eight or nine out of ten, the Ministry of Revenue will use the policy of opening up the center to receive grain. They will give salt permits and tea permits according to the amount of grain we transport. This way, we can take the opportunity to intervene in the salt and tea industries and quickly open up the market in these two profiteering industries. En, killing four birds with one stone."
"Yes, Miss," Chu Ling pursed her lips into a smile and said, "If Master Yu knew what you are thinking, he would definitely praise you as a female Goddess of Wealth. Cheng Qiyun smiled and said," I cannot compare to Goddess of Wealth Yu. I learned this kind of thinking from him. I really don't know how Daren found this treasure. The chaos of war in the world is not a good thing, but for merchants, as long as they act appropriately, it has always been a huge profit.
Ay! Who told Daren to be an official in the imperial court? My heart has softened, unexpectedly I can't bear to earn the official's money. Otherwise, based on the fact that each ship of grain can arrive half a month earlier than the imperial court, we will have a guilty conscience if we earn the fifteen percent we save. How many problems can we solve half a month earlier? How many fewer people will die? Half a month less on the road, how much can we save on labor and transportation costs? It would be strange if the Ministry of Revenue did not agree. "
Chu Ling sweetly said, "You can say that Goddess of Wealth Yu is in business, if he can earn, then he will earn. Oh, right, the imperial court needs large amounts of horses, tents, armor, weapons, bows and arrows, and medicinal ingredients to fight a war. Other than medicinal ingredients, we have been ordered to hurry up and buy them from the medicinal stores everywhere. The other equipment can only come from Liaodong.
Not only there is a large amount of cheap raw materials that can be manufactured immediately, the quality is excellent. Goddess of Wealth Yu ran over there to build several large-scale workshops, indeed he has a unique insight. Should we use our secret power to influence the imperial court's purchasing intention? "
Cheng Qiyun hesitated for a moment before saying, "No need, right now the imperial court has just purged Liu Jin's party, the Imperial Censorate and the Hanlin Academy have regained the upper hand, the hundred officials are cautious and cautious, they are afraid of making some mistakes. Even if there are corrupt officials, they will not dare to profit from the national calamity. The weapons, armor, bows and arrows produced by our Liaodong armory are the best, the price is also fair, presumably they will be the Ministry of War's first choice, there is no need to expose their relationship with us. "
Chu Ling grunted in agreement. Cheng Qiyun thought for a moment and then said, "Also, tell Goddess of Wealth Yu to search for as many Mongolian and Jurchen horses as possible to sell at the Pass, try not to touch the horses in our farm. Last year there was a heavy snowfall, this year the water and grass are abundant, it is suitable to train a large number of warhorses, we cannot lose the big picture because of small things, we must look at the long term.
Also, recruit more Wranglers. It doesn't matter if there are a few more. There are Jurchen Zhenren, Tartars, the three Duoyan Guards, the Liaodong Army, and the Horse Gang outside the Great Wall. There are all kinds of complicated forces. Once something happens, these people can quickly form a well-trained and skillful cavalry. This is the military guarantee for our various industries outside the Great Wall. "
* * *
The more the two arms dealers talked, the happier they were, they were beaming with joy when Yutang Chun walked in unhappily. Cheng Qiyun quickly took the paperweight and pressed it on the table, she stood up and said with a smile, "Yu 'er is here, quickly sit down. Ling 'er, make some tea, Yu' er, what is making you unhappy? "
Yutang Chun sat down on a chair and sighed faintly, "It's nothing much, Master's troops went to Dezhou and now he is staying at home, it's fine if he doesn't know anything, but occasionally hearing people talk about it makes him more worried."
She glanced at Cheng Qiyun and said, "Just now Cher and I went to the construction site opposite to admire the newly built main residence, I heard from the refugees who escaped from Dezhou that Dezhou City had been attacked by the White Coat Army three times. At that time, the White Coat Army had just raised their troops, there were only about ten thousand men and horses, in the end they could not attack, so they turned to the hinterland. Now it is said that the Ringing Horse Bandits have thirty thousand men, it really makes people worry for Master."
When Cheng Qiyun heard this, she could not help but laugh, "You, don't worry too much, if Madam sees this, she will inevitably be worried. In my opinion, there won't be any problems, the Duke's status is now respected, it is impossible for him to carry a spear and ride a horse, to personally fight on the battlefield, he is only in command and dispatching the whole army.
Dezhou City is deep and high, it has always been a place for the imperial court to station and train troops, the soldiers there are also very good at fighting, and now there are sixty thousand men stationed in Dezhou City, twice the number of the Ringing Horse Bandits, accompanying the army to defend the city, there is really nothing to worry about. "
Hearing this, Yu Tang Chun heaved a sigh of relief and sweetly said: "Sister Yun is still the best at comforting people. When I told Xue 'er about my worries, she would only say' No problem, Master, you have thousands of troops and horses under your command. Even if it's someone from the pugilistic world who comes and goes, with just a Divine Fire Spear, I have already killed two of them. She is the descendant of the Yang family's generals after all, she is wise and mighty, very impressive '. I am so angry at her."
Chu Ling listened to this and chuckled, she was just about to say, 'How is your Master wise and powerful, very impressive? Could it be because he personally witnessed the power of the Yang Family's spear? ' But then she suddenly remembered her Miss's relationship with Yang Ling, this kind of teasing might also make her angry, so she hurriedly closed her mouth.
Sister Yu looked in surprise at Chu Ling, who suddenly laughed for no reason and then suddenly became serious, and then asked Cheng Qiyun, "Sister Yun, then in your opinion, will the Ringing Horse Bandits retreat in the face of difficulties and give up attacking Dezhou?"
Cheng Qiyun pondered for a moment, her face became serious, and said, "They won't, occupying Shandong, controlling the capital in the north, and the Central Plains in the south, this should be the strategy of the rebels. Shandong's water transport is too important to the capital, once the Grand Canal is cut off, it is equivalent to cutting off the capital's lifeline, turning the capital into a floating island. This is far more serious than the Ringing Horse Bandits killing in and out of the capital, causing more damage to the court."
In addition, once Madman Zhao enters Shanxi, once he gains a foothold, he will definitely send his troops back east. At that time, the east and west will cooperate, and once he takes Henan, the throat of the capital will be tightly gripped, food and fodder won't be able to come in, taxes won't be able to come in, and the hundreds of thousands of troops will collapse without any food or pay, the rebels can easily take down the head of Ming Destiny. "
This was the reason why Yang Ling did his best to destroy or drive the White Army out of Shandong. In fact, Yang Ling also had an unknown worry: The Emperor had no sons, and now there was no heir in the Eastern Palace. If he allowed the rebels to build a base right under his nose, and if the rebels really managed to break into the city and something happened to the Emperor, the vassal lords would fight for the throne, and the world would be out of control, and then he could only lament his inadequacy.
Cheng Qiyun muttered to herself, "The rebels have already realized this. Taking Dezhou is an attempt, so they will definitely do their best. But … the thirty thousand cavalry of Bazhou's Ringing Horse may be a headache, but the real danger is still Yang Hu's one hundred thousand troops.
Even if Liu Liu takes down Bazhou, with just thirty thousand cavalry, he won't be able to control all of Shandong. To occupy Shandong, we still have to rely on Yang Hu's troops. I think he should be able to withstand the attack of thirty thousand Ringing Horse Bandits in Bazhou, but to destroy Yang Hu's army, it will be difficult.
Facing the Ringing Horse Bandits who come and go like the wind, untraceable, the court is like swinging a thousand-pound hammer at cotton, they have the strength but can't use it, and if they are not careful, they will sprain their waist. Other than dealing with every move, there really is no good plan. So you don't have to worry about His Excellency's safety, if you have to worry, you should be worried that he won't be able to achieve anything, and won't be able to suppress the bandits.
His Lordship has conquered the north, conquered the pirates, conquered the barbarians, conquered the barbarians, he has used his wits, strength, military force and political strategy, it can be said that he has many brilliant plans. But these bandits do not have any tricks, how can we deal with every move? As the saying goes, a random punch can kill an old master, the White Uniform Army and the Ringing Horse Bandits use a random punch. "
Chu Ling sighed, "Sigh! I hope that our Master Yang's treasured sword will never grow old, and his divine spear will never fall! "
Yutang Chun raised her eyebrows and blurted out, "Of course, my Master's treasured sword will never grow old …"
Cheng Qiyun met Yutang Chun's eyes, the two pairs of watery eyes were overflowing with ripples, they suddenly felt a sense of mutual appreciation. The Ying and the Ying saw the same thing.
※ ※ ※
Hua Dang's army went deep into the grasslands, looking around, it was boundless grasslands on all sides, it was as if they were the only ones in the empty world. Along the way, they attacked and destroyed the camps, the big and small camps that belonged to Bayan were uprooted one by one, the marching speed was very fast.
Because Bayan had secretly recruited the soldiers of the various tribes to attack Datong, the rear camps were extremely empty. He had also sealed off the news beforehand, to prevent the Wala tribe or the Duoyan Guards from finding out. Because the grasslands were vast, even if they belonged to the same tribe, it was rare for them to meet and exchange information. This time, he had deliberately set up a diversion and sealed off the news. Logically speaking, by the time the other enemy tribes knew that his rear was empty, even if they wanted to attack, he would have already led his army north.
But he never expected that the son of Hua Dang, the son of the enemy tribe's leader, would secretly become brothers with the people of his tribe, and even received accurate information that he had sent out troops. What was even more unexpected was that Hua Dang, who had always been timid, was so ambitious that he dared to take the initiative to send troops and loot his camp.
Bayan had a reason to send troops, he had no choice but to take this strange risk. In order to cover up, he even left his beloved wife, Zhuo Er, who had never left his side, in the camp to appease the people. But now, it seemed that his risk had failed. Losing one step at a time, the pasture that he had plundered for many years, the herdsmen who had submitted to him, were being devoured by Hua Dang.
Now, Hua Dang had gradually advanced to his headquarters.
Every warrior had plundered a large amount of wealth, and a portion of the warriors had already been escorted back. Their greed was growing, and they were determined to take the richest headquarters of Bayan's tribe.
The sky was filled with stars, and the oily grass lay docilely on the ground, smooth as satin. A crescent moon, emitted a faint light. More than ten thousand horses, like a dark cloud under the faint moonlight, slowly moved on the grasslands, only the sound of the horses' footsteps could be heard.
In front of them was Nairen Tai's thousand men, this was a sharp knife unit about three li away from the main group, responsible for searching and guarding. Bayan's reputation was well known, even though he had received accurate information that he had brought people to Datong, but under the influence of his reputation, Hua Dang still had to be careful. They were already close to Bayan's old nest, he had to be careful.
Suddenly, there was a battle cry in front of them, Hua Dang's heart tightened, and immediately ordered the army to wait for orders, and sent Bayar to lead three thousand cavalry to reinforce and find out what was going on. For the sake of caution, he sent another thousand men to guard the left and right sides, the formation looked like an eagle spreading its wings in the dark night.
On the grasslands, men and horses galloped, and the sounds of battle rang out. In the dark night, lives were lost under the almost invisible cold light, the angry roars of men, the cries of women and children, the clashing of steel weapons, the neighing of horses, the bleating of sheep, and the howling of cows fleeing in all directions mixed together.
Bayar, who had just arrived, became spirited, "From the movements, this tribe is not small, and is extremely rich, we can make a fortune again!"
He was not afraid at all, and waved the steel fork in his hand, at the same time, he whipped the horse's butt, and shouted, "The slaves, cows, sheep, wealth, and women that Longevity Heaven bestowed to us are right in front, charge!"
Three thousand cavalrymen rushed forward, unable to use bows and arrows in the dark, all they could do was quietly hold their bright curved swords in their hands, and along with the loud galloping of the strong horses, from afar, there was a frightening cold light under the moonlight.
It was still like a tidal wave charging forward. Wherever the warhorses passed, the waves would split apart. The entire cavalry unit was like a sharp knife, cutting through the two sides of the chaotic battle. They charged all the way to the outside of the tent, then made an arc and came back to kill. At this time, the soldiers following closely behind had already confronted the enemy head-on.
This camp was already the camp of the nobles of the Boyan tribe, thirty miles away from the main camp of the Boyan tribe, and there were about two thousand people stationed there. In order to protect this important place, the soldiers of this tribe were not mobilized for battle. They were responsible for protecting the Queen, and were sent to patrol at night with shepherd dogs.
It was they who first discovered the approaching vanguard of Hua Dang, but this only gave the soldiers in the camp a little time to grab their weapons and jump on their horses, and then they fell into a tangled battle. When Bayar's three thousand cavalrymen passed through them like a torrent, and then turned back to attack and annihilate them, they knew that the situation was hopeless.
Then, they had no choice but to fight. Bayar used the momentum of the warhorse and the strength of his waist, the steel fork in his hand swept out with a hair-raising gust of wind, sweeping away four spears coming at him with a whoosh, two of which had already been broken. Then, he fiercely swung forward, and using the momentum, he threw a knight off his horse.
The pitchfork was snatched back, and like a poisonous dragon, three bloody holes appeared on the chest of the knight who had been stabbed from the horse's abdomen to the horse's buttocks. Blood spurted out crazily, and he fell down from the horse without making a sound. Then, the horse trampled on him like a galloping lantern, and its hooves, as big as the mouth of a bowl, trampled the knight's sturdy body into meat paste.
They had the advantage in numbers and attacked when the enemy was unprepared. The sudden attack of a sharp knife allowed the four thousand cavalrymen to unleash their full potential. The fierce and swift attack only took a moment to kill off the thousands of soldiers who had hurriedly responded to the battle without any formation or coordination.
There were injured soldiers who had fallen off their horses and were running in panic among the horses. They didn't know when a horse would rush over from the front, the back, or the left and right of them. The rider on the horse would stand up and raise his sharp steel blade high up in the air, hacking down fiercely with a string of blood beads.
Slashing from the shoulder to the back, the dismounted opponent would be cut in half. It was so fast that some of the soldiers could even hear the sound of the steel knife cutting into their skulls and bones breaking. At this time, half of their body, or the whole head with an arm, had already fallen to the ground.
The battle was very fierce, but it ended cleanly. By the time Hua Dang's army understood the situation and rushed over, Bayar and Nairen Tai had already begun to gather all the valuables, cattle, sheep, women, elderly, and children. Regardless of their status, they were all slaves.
Hua Dang simply asked about the situation and learned that Bayan's main camp was just thirty li ahead. He immediately became spirited and ordered: "Leave a thousand men to guard the captives. Leave all the valuables and spare horses here. Knights, advance lightly. Someone must have escaped to inform Bayan's main camp. Attack at full speed!"
Hua Dang was extremely cautious when he should be, but at this critical juncture, he made a prompt decision and immediately made a decision: victory or defeat depends on this one move. Since they were able to capture this camp so easily, it meant that they had been searching carefully before this, the news of clearing the camp did not reach here at all, so there could not be any more traps ahead.
Since this was the outpost of the main camp, even if no one had escaped, they must have other ways to communicate with the main camp. They had to attack with full force and not give Bayan's camp a chance to prepare for battle.
"Woo ~ ~ Woo woo ~ ~ Woo ~ ~" The bugle horn wailed incessantly. There was no longer a need to hide their tracks. This was the final battle!
Hua Dang was extremely excited: "After capturing everything that Bayan had, when his army returns to the grasslands, other than surrendering, the only option left is to starve to death. Now, I will be on equal footing with Fire Sieve and even stronger than him. I will become the king of the grasslands!"
The forceful and drawn-out bugle horn command did not sound. Hua Dang's army suddenly sped up. Like a sharp wolf fang arrow, the central army shot out and the two flanks followed, heading straight for Bayan's main camp.
※ ※ ※
Bayan's main camp had already received the news that the winged cavalry had rushed back. However, this cavalryman knew that this matter was of great importance and immediately rushed back to report the moment there was an enemy attack. As for who the attacker was, he still did not know.
Even so, this was his duty. As the main general that Bayan had arranged to guard the main camp, Mo Rigen did not dare to be careless. He immediately blew the bugle horn and ordered all the soldiers to gather to face the enemy. The soldiers hurriedly mounted their horses. Just as they got into formation outside the huge camp that was made up of Mongolian yurts, a strange sound wave could be heard from afar under the starlight and moonlight.
"Howl ~ ~ ~ ~" It sounded like a wolf howling at the moon, but it was incomparably powerful. It was a terrifying sound wave formed by countless cavalrymen shouting at the same time. Under the faint moonlight, countless black shadows pounced from the front. They were like tumbling waves, surging and shaking the earth.
Seeing this terrifying momentum, Mo Rigen's face changed color. He turned his head to look back at the three thousand elite cavalrymen that had hastily assembled and could not help but feel a sense of despair. What was coming at them was not a flock of sheep, but fierce warriors that were no less valiant than them. A rough estimate of the enemy's numbers was at least twelve thousand.
He turned his head and shouted to his trusted centurion, "Quick, protect Serimu. Leave immediately. Warriors, do not retreat. Charge!"
They were used to attacking and had no habit of defending, nor did they have the conditions to do so. There were hundreds of tents in the Boyan Camp. Only the Boyan Palace, which was located at the very center, was surrounded by a short mud wall around the huge Mongolian Great Khan's tent.
Bayan's army also formed an arrowhead formation and charged forward. 'Piercing Through Tactics' was an effective attack formation that Genghis Khan concluded based on the characteristics of the Mongolian cavalry. Since they came from the same lineage, they naturally understood this tactic. It all depended on whose blade was sharper.
Hua Dang's army relied on the belief of victory and their powerful military strength. Mo Rigen only relied on the four hundred heavy cavalrymen in the middle of the three thousand cavalrymen. The armored cavalry that specialized in charging were tall and strong, and their horses were also the strongest and most powerful fighting force. Their entire bodies were covered in leather armor, and the weapons they used were huge and heavy weapons like spears, steel forks, and maces.
The heavy cavalrymen charged forward while the light cavalrymen followed behind. They charged fearlessly towards the enemy that was several times their size.
There was something different about the sound of heavy hooves. Even though it was deep in the night, Hua Dang could immediately tell that these were Boyan's heavy cavalry. In battle, using the heavy cavalry to tear apart the impenetrable steel formation of the enemy and then allowing the light cavalry to charge in and wreak havoc was indeed an extremely incisive tactic. The problem was, their use was limited to charging. Now, they still had enough knights to cooperate with them to expand the gap of the heavy cavalry's charge and cover the heavy cavalry who were not suited for prolonged battle.
The horn sounded again. Hua Dang's army, which was arranged in a knife-shaped formation, split into five. The two armies at the outermost flank were like two sharp scimitars, avoiding Bayan's heavy cavalry and charging towards the defenceless main camp. The sound of horse hooves rang out, sparks flew, laughter and cries rang out.
The heavy cavalry attack was a one-way trip. They could no longer care about the main camp. The three thousand cavalrymen were filled with grief and indignation. Their only hope was to kill as many enemies as possible. The three cavalrymen in the middle of Hua Dang charged forward without fear of death. Their leader was Hua Dang himself.
Before the two sides had even come into contact, the arrows were already pouring down like a torrential downpour. All of them were riding experts who could shoot arrows from horseback. With this exchange of arrows, the rain of arrows was so dense that many people fell from their horses. However, the momentum of the two sides did not slow down at all.
When Hua Dang's three cavalrymen caught up, the other two cavalrymen split up and circled around, avoiding the heavy cavalry and charging straight at the light cavalry following closely behind. Like pincers, they cut off the coordination between the heavy cavalry and the heavy cavalry. The absolute advantage in numbers and the quality of their martial prowess determined the outcome of the battle in an instant.
Countless sabers and spears were brandished in the air, making clanking noises and cutting into bodies. Curses and roars could be heard without end, but the despairing cries of death were rarely heard.
The arrows and tripping ropes caused a certain amount of trouble for the armed cavalrymen, but the threat was not great. They had indeed cut open the Hua Dang cavalry's camp and charged in unstoppably. The problem was that no one followed them.
When their momentum had weakened, they found that there was only the light cavalry of the Duoyan Guards around them. There was not enough space for them to run and fully display the perfect combination of speed, weight, and strength. The unstoppable and frightening heavy cavalry became clumsy and slow. The soldiers around them formed groups of three to five, and like a pack of wild wolves, they did not hesitate to attack.
It was a chaotic battle. Both sides were entangled with each other, roaring and shouting. Blood spurted out, but the Hua Dang cavalry clearly had the upper hand. When strength was equal, the number of people was the absolute deciding factor.
The cavalry of Hua Dang Cavalry knew that this was the last battle and all of them became more courageous. They entangled with each other, fiercely intercepted and attacked from afar. They worked well with each other and cooperated well with each other. The three thousand elite cavalry continued to decrease and the first one to die was the originally ferocious four hundred heavy cavalry.
Nabuqi walked into Kedun's tent in a panic and shouted, "Kedun, the army of the Hua Dang has attacked our camp. They have the advantage in numbers. General Morigen asks you to leave immediately. His personal guard, Shaobu, is waiting outside. Let's go quickly."
Serimuzhuo had been standing nervously in the tent waiting for news. She already knew that there was a tribe attacking, but she did not know where the enemy came from. Boyan was away on an expedition. Although the news was strictly sealed, the news of the expedition of 18,000 elite soldiers could not be hidden for long.
It had already been more than twenty days. By now, the news should have gradually spread out. Based on her estimation, the two powerful enemies, Fire Sieve and Hua Dang, would receive the news and send people to verify it. Even if they immediately decided to shed all pretenses of cordiality and launch an all-out attack, they would then inform the tribes to gather their troops. Until they set off for battle, it would take at least twenty more days at the earliest.
But now there was a warning. How could this be? Serimuzhuo 'o's beautiful face was tense and solemn. She hoped that it was a false alarm, and that it was a vassal tribe who dared to offend them due to a lack of food. As long as it was not Huo Zhai and the Hua Dang, who dared to directly offend Boyan, then it would not be a great danger.
But now, the words of her personal maid Nabuqi dispelled her fantasies. Serimuzhuo 'o' o 'o' o's pretty face turned pale. She bit her thin and red lips tightly, and could already taste the sweet taste of blood.
Nabuqi saw that she was in a daze and hurriedly shook her arm. "Ke Dun, Ke Dun, let's go. If we delay any longer, it will be too late."
Serimuzhuo shook her head slightly and pushed her hand away. "No, Nabuqi, it is too late. The Hua Dang attacked our camp, and they will definitely send people to block our escape routes. Shaobu's hundred warriors will not be able to break out."
Her eyes flickered, and she took a deep breath. "Pass down my order. Everyone, stop resisting pointlessly. We will accept the arrangement of fate. I … order the tribe to surrender!"
Nabuqi's mouth opened wide in shock. After a while, she murmured, "Let Shaobu's people escape in all directions. There will always be people who can escape. We should quickly ask the Khan to return …"
"Shut up! Immediately pass down my order. Do not anger the Hua Dang! " Serimuzhuo 'o' o 'o' o 'o' o 'o' o 'o' o 'o' o was beautiful and elegant, like a pure snow lotus. At this time, when she was angry, she had an awe-inspiring aura. Nabuqi was startled and hurriedly bowed, then hurriedly went out to pass down the order.
"If he knew that I was kidnapped, the Khan would definitely return immediately, but it is too late now. We can only drag him down. The Khan is doing something big. Whether or not he can make a comeback depends on this. Manduhai can help him achieve hegemony. I, Serimuzhuo 'o, can too! "Serimuzhuo' o clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, but it was far less painful than the pain in his heart.
Her order was passed down too late. The three thousand elite horsemen outside the camp had not returned. When the two groups of Hua Dang's cavalry broke into the camp, they killed many old and sick people who tried to resist in a hurry. Shaobu and his elite horsemen were forced to resist and were quickly turned into mud under the hooves of the horses. Nabuqi was so shocked that her face turned pale. The Queen's order did not even leave the Khan's tent.
How could the warriors of the grassland not recognize the twelve Mongolian Khans' tents? The iron horsemen surrounded the huge yurt of the white tent, but no one dared to enter and disturb it.
Seeing this, Nabuqi felt slightly relieved. She rushed back into the tent, wanting to report the current situation to Ke Dun. When she lifted the curtain, she found Ke Dun sitting in front of a long table beside the curtain, combing her beautiful hair. She had changed into a milky white silk gown with lace. Half of her breasts were exposed, and her waist was slender. The light muslin covered her body, but it could not hide the round curves of her fragrant buttocks.
Nabuqi was stunned at first, then came to a realization. Finally, she felt a deep sense of disdain …
Hua Dang's army became the new masters of Boyan's camp. The women and children of the captives were kept separately. The livestock, goats, and other valuables in the camp could only be counted at dawn. Other than collecting the bows, arrows, and weapons, the exhausted army occupied Boyan's camp. They started a fire and cooked, preparing for a good night's rest.
Bai Yin was very meticulous. She arranged guards everywhere in the camp. Hua Dang also sent his son, Arslan, to lead his personal guards to set up layers of security around the perimeter to prevent a sneak attack.
When everything was arranged, he came to the front of the Khagan's tent. The soldiers surrounding the tent saluted him with clenched fists. Hua Dang looked smugly at the white tent. The tent was embroidered with beautiful patterns, magnificent and dignified. At this moment, there were countless torches, and the figures of the soldiers were reflected on the white tent. Their shadows were indistinct, distorted, and looked like evil spirits baring their fangs and brandishing their claws.
Hua Dang smiled and stopped in front of the tent. Then, he lifted the felt curtain and looked up. The ground was covered with a soft carpet, woven with gorgeous and complicated patterns. This was the Khagan's living tent. A large bed was placed behind the soft and hazy curtain. In front of the curtain was a throne, and in front of the throne was a long table. On the table were a few plates of fresh fruits, snacks, and two vases of fresh flowers.
On the right side of the curtain, the light was dim. There was a gorgeous dressing table, and an elegant beauty was sitting there, blocking the light on the dressing table. The light shone through the soft white robe, setting off her tall and graceful figure. It was so beautiful that it made one drool.
How many such beautiful and unique beauties were there on the grasslands? Was this Serimuzhuo 'er, the famous beauty of the grasslands, the Boyan Khagan's most beloved Empress? Hua Dang's breathing became heavy, and his eyes also shot out a burning flame.
Serimuzhuo 'er stood up and walked over step by step. Under the light gauze, her graceful figure swayed with the gentle movement of her waist and buttocks, creating a seductive rhythm. For a moment, the tent was filled with an enchanting and lascivious atmosphere. Serimuzhuo 'er's limpid eyes were slightly lowered, and she timidly bowed in front of the flower bed.
Hua Dang gently bent down and hooked up her smooth chin. He stared at this peerless beauty for a long time before holding her arms and helping her up. He laughed, laughed happily, as if he was already the king of the grasslands.
On the grasslands, no matter how noble you used to be, once you were defeated, everything you had belonged to the victor, everything you had was something he could take from you. It was common for the wives of chiefs and khans, like goods, to be constantly moved around in front of the victors and the victors' victors in men's wars.
Boyan Khagan's mother had been stolen by the leader of another tribe in a war. Only when Boyan Khagan grew up and defeated that tribe did he get his mother back. By this time, his mother had already given birth to a few more children for that leader. The women of the grasslands were like rootless duckweed, they could only attach themselves to the wings of the strong.
At this moment, Boyan's most beautiful and most noble Empress was at his feet, acknowledging that he was the greatest hero of the grasslands, the strongest person on the grasslands. What else could a stray dog like Boyan do?
Outside the tent, the torches were still burning. At some point, Naqib had quietly retreated with his back bent. Then, he let down the curtain and knelt by the curtain.
The fragrant and soft bedding was full of elasticity. Serimuzhuo was lying on it, his white, jade-like cheeks flushed red. The soft silk robe wrapped around his body, revealing his wonderful appearance. His two plump, snow-white thighs were mostly exposed, and his pink breast muscles were also exposed. This snow lotus on the iceberg had become a hot aphrodisiac.
Her skin was lustrous and white, her curves undulating up and down, her muscles well-proportioned and full of elasticity. Her white and intoxicating thighs, her plump breasts, and her slender waist were all emitting wisps of a woman's fragrance in Hua Dang's nose.
It had been a long time since Hua Dang had such an impulsive feeling. In front of this stunningly beautiful woman, he was like the first time he had a woman. Impulsive, flustered, blissful, and helpless. Finally, with a roar, he pounced on her.
Accompanied by a tender moan, her slender legs bent, her soft breasts and her snow-white buttocks lingered. Passion surged. The soul-stirring moans and panting like tigers and wolves lasted for almost the entire night. Endless lewdness, endless spring …
※ ※ ※
The pasture and the people had all fallen into the hands of others. Poor Bayan Mengke. When he returned to the army, he had nothing and could only disband the army and lead his cronies to become bandits on the grasslands.
When Huo Dang suddenly turned out in full force and took advantage of the fact that Bayan's rear was empty, the outcome was already decided, but it was too late. It seemed that there was some kind of tacit understanding between them, and soon they would become new competitors.
That was then, and this was now. Bayan, the most powerful enemy, was no longer worth mentioning. The two of them needed to re-evaluate the true strength of their new main opponent. As they accumulated their strength, they waited silently, waiting for the day when the two sides would meet on the battlefield. At the same time, they were waiting for Bayan, waiting for the final performance of this dying hero. Would it be comical or tragic? They hoped that the once most powerful man would not let them down.
In any case, the grasslands had temporarily entered the calm before the storm …
The imperial envoy governor, Duke Wei, Yang Ling, was stationed at the Martial Arts Hall in Dezhou City. The Martial Arts Hall was a large and deep mansion with three courtyards in front and back. On the left and right side, there were carriages and horses, as well as other courtyards for the servants. Because it was the military office, the walls were high and the courtyard was shaded by trees.
It was already the middle of June, and the weather was hot and dry. It had just rained yesterday, and not long after, the cool air was swept away. The chirping of cicadas mingled together, and it was noisy since early in the morning. There was not a moment of peace.
Yang Ling wore a robe, a scarf, and a jade belt around his waist. After a while, he finally tidied up. As Wu Hanchao helped him put on his sword, he said with a frown, "Duke, yesterday afternoon I took some people to tour around the city, and then went to Mulberry Garden and the Twelve Cities. As Duke expected, the army not only has its own commander, but military discipline is also corrupt, and there are scattered soldiers everywhere.
Now there are reinforcements from Tianjin and Baoding, and Dezhou's local soldiers are divided into the center and right guards. As for the strong people, they have their own regimental commanders. As for the scattered soldiers who escaped from Qihe, Linyi, Huimin, and other counties, their morale is even lower, and they are very disorganized.
Commander Luo is only the person in charge in name, but in reality, many generals do not take him seriously. These troops, each with their own schemes, are difficult to follow orders, and are stationed in three different places. It is very difficult to achieve mutual support, cooperation, and mutual trust. Although our total military strength is double that of the Rattling Horse Bandits, it is inevitable that we all have our own selfish motives in the face of battle, and will pass the buck to each other, thus delaying the battle. "
Yang Ling nodded, and pressed the spring. With a 'qiang' sound, the sharp sword shot out half a foot. With a 'keng' sound, he sheathed it again, and tightened the Eight Square Peace Cloth, saying: "Come, let's go to the drill ground to gather the troops. I know what you said, and I called you over to verify it. In troubled times, we need to use heavy measures, serious illnesses need strong medicine. This group of old master generals, ruffian soldiers must be tidied up first, or else they will be difficult to use. Hey, give me a cup of cold tea, I am sweating all over just wearing clothes! "
The group hurried to the outer hall. Commander Luo, dressed in full armor, had been waiting for a long time. As soon as he saw Duke Wei, he immediately put down his teacup and stood up. Yang Ling looked at Luo Guangquan, and Commander Luo nodded slightly. Yang Ling smiled and said: "Come, to the drill ground."
The front gate of the drill ground was very grand, with vermillion lacquered copper rings and a beast head gate. In front of the gate, two lions were facing each other. The ground in front of the gate was made as hard as iron and stone by the soldiers, and a large 'Yang' character flag was hung high above the gate.
Below the steps in front of the gate stood eight burly soldiers. This place was cool and shady, and there was a wind blowing through the hall, so the eight of them did not feel too uncomfortable. As soon as they saw Duke Wei, their originally lazy bodies immediately straightened, their hands on the hilts of their sabers, and their expressions were solemn. But as soon as Yang Ling and the rest walked over, their raised shoulders relaxed, and their dignified killing intent was swept away. There was no other way, when the ground in Shandong was hot, it was really hot.
Someone had already led the warhorses outside the gate, and Yang Ling took a large brim sunhat and put it on his head. He flipped over and got on the horse. With a wave of his whip, the sound of hooves thundered, and dozens of strong horses galloped away as fast as lightning.
The Dezhou drill ground was in the outer city, and the inner city had a circumference of nine miles, and the outer city was ten miles. It was very vast. Flags fluttered in the drill ground, and the Dezhou Guards, Dezhou Left Guards, Baoding Army, Tianjin Army, Dezhou Regiment Training Army, Qihe, Linyi, Huimin, and other scattered soldiers who escaped from Dezhou formed a square formation. Of course, these soldiers were not all of the defending army, and there were only about ten thousand of them.
Yang Ling took a closer look: weapons of all kinds, military uniforms of all colors, and their bodies were big and burly. The formation was scattered everywhere, and when Yang Ling saw it, he felt that it was simply a motley crew.
The Dezhou Guards and Dezhou Left Guards were the most orderly in formation. Be it the cavalry or the infantry, they exuded an austere aura, showing that they were well-trained. One look and you could tell that they were swift and fierce warriors with strong bows and sharp blades. The reinforcements from Baoding and Tianjin were also not bad, but since they were reinforcements, it was inevitable that they would feel superior. They treated themselves as guests, and as they stood, they swayed left and right.
The Regiment Training Army was made up of strong people, and even though they tried their best to stand there, they were still swaying. If they stood like this, they would rush out like a swarm of bees once the battle started. One could imagine how difficult it was to command and dispatch on the battlefield.
These farmers only gathered together to train during the slack season. Shandong was a place of martial arts, and their individual kung fu was probably not bad. The problem was that even if their individual kung fu was at the level of Jing Fo 'er and Lunatic Min, it would not have much of an impact on the battle. After all, the army paid attention to coordination and cooperation in battle, and what they lacked was this.
As for the deserters from the other counties who had gathered in Dezhou, they were basically Wei Suo soldiers who had lived there for generations. The festering and low combat ability of the Wei Suo soldiers was well known. They could stand out from these rotten soldiers, survive the survival of the fittest, and escape with their lives from the frenzied hooves of the White Shirt Army. They could be considered talents. These people were either physically strong or intelligent and alert. The problem was that their military discipline was the worst, and as a warrior, their psychological aversion and fear of battle was the most important reason for their low combat ability.
"Ah, let's not talk about this. They all have their own subordinates and different orders, and that's even worse. Can these people complete my plan? No matter what, I have to try! "
Yang Ling stopped his horse, and his sharp gaze carefully swept over this motley army. Then he tapped the horse's flank, shook the reins lightly, and urged the horse to continue forward. He only brought a few dozen personal guards behind him, but these dozens of people were even more imposing than the tens of thousands of soldiers in front of him. When they stood solemnly, they were like deep pools and mountains. When they moved forward, they were neat and orderly, like a forest. There was an oppressive murderous aura that these solemn soldiers did not possess.
Yang Ling went up to the General Selection Stage. Commander Luo stood in front of the stage and called out the names of each 'Marquis'. With Duke Wei here, everyone rarely gave him face and went forward to greet him one by one. The various armies went around to the front of the stage to practice formations, change formations, and perform martial arts. This time, Yang Ling was slightly relieved.
The culture of martial arts in this area had been around for a long time. It was also because of this that Yang Hu, Liu Liu, and the others raised the flag of rebellion and were able to quickly form a strong military force. The soldiers here were rooted in this area, so their martial arts foundation was not weak. There was still hope if they were trained well.
By the time all the armies had walked around, they were already drenched in sweat. At this time, the sun was shining brightly, and even the generals in front of the stage could not stand it. However, Yang Ling had already taken off his sun hat and stood motionless in front of the stage. They dared not move as well.
Yang Ling went forward and started to lecture. The name of the founding of the sect was nothing more than the imperial court, the Emperor, and other similar words of consolation. Then, he started to talk about how all the armies should defend Dezhou together, help each other in the same boat, and be of one heart.
Yang Ling then ordered the Middle Commander to read out the seventeen rules and fifty-four executions of the army loudly. He read them one by one and even had to explain them in detail. The Middle Commander was so tired that he shouted himself hoarse. The soldiers below the stage were so tired that their heads were dripping with oil and they were about to fall asleep.
Seeing this, Yang Ling took a step forward and shouted: "Attention all troops, take three steps forward!"
The three armies were startled. The messenger was the first to react and quickly passed on the military order. The three armies took three steps forward in unison and got closer to the General Selection Stage.
Yang Ling's dignified gaze swept across the entire army. He raised his voice and said: "You can't even stand a little scorching sun? All of you are soldiers. Once the military order is given, it doesn't matter if the sun is too hot or if the sky is raining knives. You must not move and you must not move. There is a saying since ancient times that a defeated army is like a landslide. Have you all heard of it? There is another saying that a military order must be obeyed! A military order must be obeyed! If a military order cannot be obeyed, the mountain will fall and the soldiers will suffer a crushing defeat! "
He turned his head to the Middle Commander and said: "Continue reading!"
"Yes!" The Middle Commander roared hoarsely and continued to shout. The soldiers below the stage cursed but did not dare to raise their voices. They could only patiently listen to the Middle Commander howling like a donkey.
Right at this moment, someone hurriedly ran up the stage and whispered a few words into Luo Guangquan's ear. Luo Guangquan immediately went forward and whispered to Yang Ling. Yang Ling retreated to the side of the stage and summoned the commanders of Baoding and Tianjin to discuss. It turned out that someone had reported that there was a small group of Ringing Horse Bandits harassing outside the city. It was obvious that they were probing the actual situation inside the city.
This was the outer city and not far from the city. It was only three arrows' distance away. Yang Ling said: "This Supervisor has not seen the Ringing Horse Bandits with my own eyes. Come, generals, follow me up the city wall to take a look."
He then called the Middle Commander and said: "Order the entire army to stand at attention. Without this Supervisor's order, do not act rashly! This Supervisor and the generals will be back in a moment! "
Yang Ling led the generals down the stage and mounted his horse. He whipped his horse and galloped towards the north of the city. Seeing that his warhorse had gone far away, the Middle Commander's voice also weakened. His throat was almost broken from all the shouting.
How long has Duke been gone? The soldiers anxiously waited, but they did not see the generals return. A baihu among the scattered soldiers of Qihe County could not stand it anymore. He tugged at his sweaty uniform and fanned himself while he walked a few steps forward with a sullen face. He loudly said to the stage, "Sir Middle Commander, Duke has been gone for quite some time. The military law has also been read. The sun is scorching us to death. Should we dismiss and rest for a while?"
"Cough! Cough ~ ~ Cough! " The Middle Commander coughed a few times and squeezed out a little saliva to moisten his throat. With a hoarse voice, he said: "Stop ~ ~ ~ nonsense! Didn't Guan Gong burn it? Military orders are like … cough, cough … sand! "
Hearing this, the baihu resentfully retreated. Not long after, another officer strolled out from the Tianjin garrison and said lazily, "I say … we are here to help you fight the war, not to suffer. What are you doing? I look like I'm taking a bath. Do you people from Shandong like this? "
"Roar! Cough, cough! Sir Chen, the order for sand is Guan Gong. He is also … from your place. "The Middle Commander answered in a hoarse voice.
All the low-ranking generals took turns to protest. The Middle Commander could not stand it anymore. If someone else came, he would only wave his hand and point at them. He would not say another word. The Qihe baihu saw this scene and was annoyed. He scolded: "Duke said he'll be back soon. How long has it been? I'm almost dried out. Damn it, it's just a military parade, not a war. Don't use a chicken feather as a token of authority. "
He turned around and waved his hand. "Brothers, let's go. Let's cool down under the tree. When Duke is back, we can join the troops for training!"
The soldiers were hesitant. In the end, six to seven soldiers who had escaped with him stood up and followed him to the shade of a tree a few hundred feet away. Looking at the soldiers who were still standing on the drill ground, almost shriveled from the sun, the officials of the Qi River Baihu gloated. They pointed at them and laughed from time to time.
The baihu pursed his lips. It was cool, but his thirst was unbearable. He stood up and tiptoed to look into the distance. He then ordered an agile soldier to climb up a tree branch to look. Seeing that the Duke and the generals were nowhere to be seen, he said, "It looks like they won't be back for a while. Come, let's go get some water!" As he said this, he led a few of his brothers away.
The soldiers who were suffering from the sun and thirst could not help but be tempted when they saw the people under the tree's shade. In the end, a few low-ranking lieutenants ran out with a few of their trusted aides. Of course, there were also soldiers who left of their own accord, and the officials stopped them and did not dare to move again. There were also soldiers who left of their own accord, and the officials did not stop them, nor did they associate themselves with them.
An hour later, there were already sixty to seventy people gathered under the tree's shade. At this moment, a burst of galloping horses could be heard. Three thousand elite cavalrymen split into two lines and charged down from the south of the drill ground along the two sides of the trees. The cavalry galloped. Yesterday's rain had gathered and today's dried yellow soil was like a yellow dragon, covering the sky and covering the earth.
Soft leather armor, yellow robes, and a swan feather on their tasseled helmets. They had short guns on their waists, sabers, bows, and arrows. Their weapons were sharp and cold. Each of them exuded a murderous aura, enough to make their opponents tremble in fear.
Even the most elite soldiers of the State Guards couldn't help but shiver when they saw such a majestic sight. Yesterday, they saw them galloping into the city on horseback. Only their bright yellow robes were impressive. Who would have thought that these three thousand cavalrymen galloping on horseback would be as majestic as thirty thousand men on horseback! These were the veterans who had been through hundreds of battles. They were the elite soldiers of Yansui, Xuanfu, Datong, and Liaodong that the four armies had carefully selected for Yang Ling!
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