Time goes back to February of the ninth year of the Apocalypse, a month ago.

Emperor Zhu Youxiao, who had just passed the first month of the year, immediately summoned important officials to discuss military affairs.

Zhu Youxiao said to Xiong Tingbi, Yuan Keli and other important officials: "The Tatar nobles will inevitably respond to our northward advance. Moreover, their cruelty has been recorded in detail in history. Although we have strictly told the general governor of the border town to strengthen their vigilance, people's hearts are difficult to control, and it is impossible to ensure that there will be any mistakes in some places."

"In this regard, simple defense naturally cannot completely stop them. The only way is to imitate the strategies of the Han and Tang dynasties and the strategies of Chengzu of the State Council, take the initiative to attack, or even keep attacking, so that they have no time to plunder. At least when plundering our border town, they have to be afraid of being plundered. The best way is to fear that they are being plundered in the rear."

Zhu Youxiao said, "According to the latest news provided by the Jinyiwei, Lin Danhan's army is now entrenched in the Damashan area on the east side of the Xitumot tribe. It is obvious that we are plundering our Ming Dynasty. We cannot wait for them to take the initiative to attack. We should use our previous decisions to actively dispatch the army to attack him. Even if we return without success, we can still make him lose his position. The army we dispatched this time must be a gathered mobile elite soldiers, and these elite soldiers can only be commanded by me. Therefore, I decided to personally fight against the Tatars. No one can replace me. The ministers do not need to persuade me."

As Zhu Youxiao said, he asked Yuan Keli, Xiong Tingbi and others: "How are you preparing for the deployment of troops and the hoarding of food and grass?"

Yuan Keli said, therefore, "As Your Majesty said this, I naturally dare not persuade me. But I dared to say something again, I would like to ask Your Majesty not to come to the front, nor to camp in the wild, and stay in the city. If you need to arrange troops and coordinate military affairs, you also ask Your Majesty to do more good at fighting. As for the preparation of food and grass, please rest assured that Jizhou, Xuanfu, Datong, Juyongguan, Zijingguan and other places have stockpiled enough food and grass for the army. Moreover, Wang Zaijin has prepared a team of grain transport vehicles and horses in advance, and prepared a manger and water tank at various official post stations, and allowed the manger and water tank to be filled with beans and water at any time. If Your Majesty and the army still lack food, they can also ensure that the food and grass can be transported as quickly as possible."

Zhu Youxiao nodded after listening.

He had to admit that Yuan Keli and other court officials were preparing for the Tumu Fort incident after he personally led the army to fight.

"Ma Shilong and other cavalry have been transferred to Beijing, and the guards sent to various places have also been transferred back to Beijing one after another. At present, there are nearly 100,000 soldiers, including more than 30,000 cavalry, more than 50,000 infantry, three thousand cavalry, and five thousand artillery soldiers of the Shenji Camp. At present, we are just waiting for His Majesty to arrange the ministers of the Suihu."

Xiong Tingbi replied.

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao said, "You follow your entourage and coordinate military affairs for me."

Yuan Keli felt relieved when he heard that Zhu Youxiao asked Xiong Tingbi to follow him.

Xiong Tingbi also replied decisively: "Abide by the order!"

Then, Zhu Youxiao said: "Let Han Yu follow me and appease the people along the way."

"Abide by the order!"

Han Du replied.

"In addition, Tian Ergeng and Wang Chengen follow the escorts, and King Xin Zhu Youjian, and in addition, the eldest son of the emperor ordered me to supervise Jiangnan for me, and Bi Ziyan and Wang Sanshan followed him to the south!"

Zhu Youxiao continued.

Bi Ziyan was surprised. Of course, he also knew the profound meaning of His Majesty the Emperor and immediately replied: "Yes!"

Then, Zhu Youxiao said: "Zhu Xieyuan was appointed as the Minister of War, Deputy Envoy of Privy Council and Governor Shuntian, and was responsible for the affairs of the Privy Council, and coordinated the national military affairs. Yuan Aiqing was the chief assistant to coordinate the internal affairs of the country, Wei Zhongxian coordinated the affairs of the internal court, and the affairs of the capital were discussed by the three of you. Small matters can be judged first and then reported, and major matters will be delivered to me urgently!"

"Abide by the order!"

Yuan Keli and Wei Zhongxian replied.

Han Yu couldn't help but think: "I won't fall into the water again this time, your Majesty is still worried about himself. He will accompany the eldest son to inspect Jiangnan Ning and ask Bi Ziyan to go, and he will not let him go, and even leave himself in the capital. But he is already very honest!"

A few days after the court debate.

After Zhu Youxiao first surrendered to the Taimiao, he officially set out with the 100,000 elite soldiers he had assembled.

As for the capital, there are still two guards in the town.

In addition, there are the remaining 60,000 young and strong men after the reorganization of the original Jingying camp and the two towns of the Yongwei Army after the reorganization.

Both towns have been to Liaodong for actual combat, and their combat power is not inferior to that of the Guards.

Therefore, the troops left behind in the capital are still sufficient.

What's more, there are armed forces such as the East Factory, the Jinyiwei, and the Patrol Battalion.

Not long after leaving Juyongguan, Zhu Youxiao received information from the Jinyiwei about the collusion between Lin Dankhan's troops and Xitumot's troops.

"Report to the Emperor, according to our spy in Xitumot, Lindanbatuer has colluded with Leren, intending to use the territory of the Xitumot tribes to plunder the Xuanfu. According to the spy in the Chahar tribes of the Jinyiwei, in recent days, the Tatar tribes controlled by Lindanbatuer have indeed continued to gather in this area. In the eyes of the Neijing, Lindanbatuer is likely to take the initiative to plunder our Xuanfu first."

Tian Ergeng reported here.

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao looked at Xiong Tingbi: "Sure! Lin Danbatuer is unwilling to sit down and watch the expansion of our Ming Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, in this way, Xuanfu is afraid that there will be more disasters now. Lindan Batu's cavalry still has nearly 100,000. I believe that in the near future, we will receive an urgent report from Xuanfu."

Xiong Tingbi said.

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded and ordered: "Xiong Aiqing, send orders to the entire army to shorten the rest time in Huailai and Baoanzhou, and rush to Xuanfu as soon as possible! Send more posts to explore along the Xuanfu area to see if there are any traces of Tartars."

Xiong Tingbi replied: "Abide by the order!"

So, Zhu Youxiao and his personal army accelerated their trip. Before they could stay in Huailai and Baoanzhou for a long time, they rushed to Xuanfu.

Moreover, as soon as he arrived in Baoanzhou, Zhu Youxiao received an emergency report from Xuanfu.

"The Emperor, Xuanfu urgently handed over to the emperor, Zhang Fengxiang, the governor of Xuanda, Lin Danbatuer raised 100,000 troops and suddenly invaded Xuanfu after defeating the Xitumot tribe. Now he comes to ask for support from the imperial court."

Tian Ergeng reported to Zhu Youxiao here.

After hearing this, Han Yu said first: "What Zhang Fengxiang said is inconsistent with the information of the Jinyiwei. He is covering up the Tumot tribe. Perhaps it is because he knows that it is wrong, but there is no doubt that the enemy situation is happening in the Xuanfu area. I ask Your Majesty to return to Bao'anzhou temporarily to protect the situation."

Zhu Youxiao said: "Xuanfu is an important town on the nine borders, and it is always equipped with 100,000 troops and supplies, and there are tens of thousands of border troops. It will not be easily captured! It is better to stay in Xuanfu than to stay in Bao'anzhou. What does Xiong Aiqing think?"

"Your Majesty is right. Nearly 100,000 elite troops are stationed in Bao'anzhou. If you are besieged, drinking water and food are both problems. It is better to go to Xuanfu!"

Xiong Tingbi replied.

When Zhu Youxiao heard that Xiong Tingbi, the soldier-knowing person, also agreed to him, he made up his mind and said, "Go to Xuanfu!"

Shortly after passing Baoanzhou, after entering the Wanquandusi area with Xuanfu Town, Zhu Youxiao's army found that many soldiers and civilians were fleeing to Baoanzhou.

At this time, multiple provocateurs also came back one after another to report that Tartars were in the Xuanfu area, and they plundered castles and villages along the way, and slaughtered the people.

Xiong Tingbi summarized the report to Zhu Youxiao: "Zhangjiakou Fort has been broken, it is said that the guerrilla Xu Dingguo kneels down to welcome him, and now Xuanfu has been surrounded. Your Majesty, we are afraid of the danger of going here."

"Why did Xuanfu get surrounded so quickly?"

Zhu Youxiao asked in surprise.

"According to the eyeliner of the Jinyiwei in the city, the Governor of Xuanda Zhang Fengxiang said in advance that he was going to inspect Datong. He must have learned in advance that the Tartars would invade the territory, and he used this reason to escape at the fortitude, which also caused the Tartars army to suddenly invade the border, and the Xuanfu area was in a state of unattended leadership."

As the military officer in charge of the Jinyiwei, Tian Ergeng naturally had no need to cover up for the civil servant Zhang Fengxiang. He immediately reported the news he had just learned and expressed his opinion.

Zhu Youxiao asked Xiong Tingbi, "What does Xiong Aiqing think about this?"

Xiong Tingbi also knew the right amount and knew that there was no need to cover up anything for Zhang Fengxiang, a civil servant, so he said: "Reasonably, as the Governor of Xuanda, he should know better than the court that Lin Danbatu's army could invade the Xitumot tribe at any time, or even invade the Xuanfu. Instead, he should have stayed in Xuanfu for a while to stabilize the hearts of the army and the people. Moreover, the revenge of the Jinyiwei's spies was wrong with him, but he suddenly went to Datong and was indeed suspected of escaping at the last moment."

Zhu Youxiao pointed out and said, "The most urgent task at the moment is to resolve the siege of Xuanfu, and we will discuss this matter later."

"yes!"

Next, Zhu Youxiao led the army to Xuanfu.

And as he went to Xuanfu, the more defeated soldiers and refugees he encountered.

Zhu Youxiao even saw several defeated soldiers looting fleeing border residents with their own eyes, forcing these refugees to come to the side of the official army under Zhu Youxiao.

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao dismounted and walked forward.

Xiong Tingbi, Wang Cheng'en, Ma Shilong, Lu Xiangsheng and others hurriedly followed closely when they saw this.

When Zhu Youxiao saw the defeated soldiers chasing the girl and running towards him, he directly shot the man with a bow and arrow, and immediately shot the defeated soldiers to the ground.

Then, Zhu Youxiao shot down several more defeated soldiers who robbed the people.

The other defeated soldiers fled in panic.

Zhu Youxiao continued to walk to the defeated soldier who was lying on the ground and screaming. He drew his sword, pointed it at his throat and asked, "Where are you soldiers? Why did you get here and rob the people."

The soldier hurriedly begged for mercy and said, "General, please spare me. We are soldiers from Jiajiaying. After the Tartars broke through Zhangjiakou Fort, they raided our Jiajiaying. Our general died in battle. How dare we fight?"

"Then you dare not rob the people!"

Zhu Youxiao stabbed the soldier to death, and then killed the deserter who had arrows on his back and crawled out on the spot.

Then, Zhu Youxiao, with a bloody face, turned around and asked Xiong Tingbi: "Zhangjiakou Fort was lost, and the mobile border army of Jiajiaying was defeated. In your opinion, what should we do?"

"The key now is to know whether Xuanfu has fallen or not. Governor Xuanda cannot count on it. Now it depends on whether Xuanfu General Qin Bangping can withstand the pressure."

Xiong Tingbi frowned and thought deeply, and then suddenly raised his eyebrows and said to Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, now our army should temporarily stay in Jiming Mountain and send more mail-and-cavalry to explore the situation of Xuanfu;

If Xuanfu falls, there are two strategies to respond:

First, Your Majesty withdrew to the capital, and I will defend Jiming Mountain and the area along Bao'anzhou Prefecture. There is no need to leave too many troops for me. Just infantry will be enough. Your Majesty will quickly retreat;

Second, we imitate the old story of Yingzhou in Wumiao at that time. Your Majesty and his ministers were guarding Jiming Mountain, attracting the Tartars to attack, and commanding officials and troops from all over the country to help;

If Xuanfu is not lost, you should enter Xuanfu immediately. If the Tartars do not want to be attacked by me on both sides, they will definitely retreat!”

Han Du said therefore: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, if Xuanfu is lost, it is better to use Xiong Gong's first strategy. If the cavalry protects you back to the capital, your safety is more important than anything else."

Zhu Youxiao said decisively at this time: "If Xuanfu falls, we will adopt Xiong Aiqing's second strategy and follow the old story of the Wu Temple. I will serve as bait. At that time, Xiong Aiqing will command me and dispatch officers and soldiers from all over the place. Who will not follow me? Let's say that he is unfaithful and settle the accounts after autumn! Now, let's order each town to camp along Jiming Mountain, and the specific arrangements will be made by Xiong Aiqing."

"Your Majesty," Han Du said uneasy.

"How can a large army retreat without fighting? Is it still an elite of the empire? There is no need to say anything. If you talk again, you will be punished for the crime of disrupting the morale of the army. No matter who it is, you will be killed without forgiveness!"

Zhu Youxiao waved his hands.

Han Yu had to shut up because of this.

Xiong Tingbi was also ordered to arrange it.

Not long after, Ma Shilong came to the imperial prequel and said, "Report to your Majesty, the whistle cavalry sent by me, and the Xuanfu has not been lost. General Qin hangs the heads of the rich gentry in the city at the city gate, and writes the blood-tag flag on the city wall, and has now repelled the Tartars several attacks."

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao stood up and said, "What a Qin Bangping! It's good to kill!"

Only Han was surprised.
To be continued...