Chapter 128                                                             

The calendar used in the Ming Dynasty is the new calendar written by Zhou Mengchen. However, this new calendar has endured too many elements of ancient calendars and is more similar to the lunar calendar in form than the solar calendar. Therefore, the eighth month of the lunar calendar is already autumn.

In this way, there is not much time left for Zhou Mengchen.

The war will be sent in August, and the battle will probably be in early September. If the war between the two sides is in stalemate, it may be delayed until October and November.

That's the cold winter.

The cold winter outside the Great Wall treats everyone equally. It is by no means something that humans can easily offend. It may not be as good as the cold winter in Moscow. But it is definitely not the time to use military force.

If possible, Zhou Mengchen would never want to delay time until this time. But what Yang Jisheng said was reasonable, and even the status quo.

Controlling grain prices is an important task for Yang Jisheng. After all, although Datong also produces grain, it is incomparable to the grain production areas in the south. In many prefectures and counties in the south, half of the grain produced must be sold. The local area is still enough to eat, and the grain self-sufficiency rate is more than 200%. However, Datong grain still needs some supplements outside, so Zhou Mengchen can only have some food left in his hands. Moreover, with Zhou Mengchen's tacit approval, grain is an important goods exported to the Tartars. Similarly, a large amount of grain is sold in Datong for large-scale grain transportation.

If the grain produced by Datong alone is impossible to satisfy Datong, which has now flowed into a large number of foreign populations.

If the reconciliation is supported by the Ming Dynasty court, it is not impossible not to mention a mere million stones of grain. Although the Ming Dynasty court has always been in a difficult situation, the lean camel is larger than a horse. The granary in Beijing is full of all year round.

But it quietly made up for such a large food shortage, especially after the Qingcheng was captured.

Zhou Mengchen didn't know how much food this required.

Xin Ai's command had about two million Mongolians and Han people, or even a little more. However, there were not many people gathered in Qingcheng as the center, but there were also hundreds of thousands of people. Once Qingcheng was captured, it was Zhou Mengchen's responsibility to support so many people. As for food for the enemy, it was even more impossible.

Zhou Mengchen was for conquest, for long-term stability, and decided by a battle, rather than repeatedly pulling here. If he really hit this point, Zhou Mengchen would be better off listening to the court and maintaining the current situation and patting his butt and leaving.

Zhou Mengchen pondered for a moment, looked at the general, and said, "If the troops from Qiu Hou were sent, how should we fight this battle?"

Li Ru looked at Qi Jiguang.

Qi Jiguang's status is not very high now, but he has proved his strength. He is also Zhou Mengchen's most trusted general. Therefore, when planning the war, Li Ru also trusts Qi Jiguang more.

Qi Jiguang said: "Sir. When things have come to this point, you just need to drive straight into Qingcheng."

Qi Jiguang took a few steps forward, came to the front of the map, pointed his finger at Yulin, and said, "There is already a road along the way from Yulin to Qingcheng. It is the way for merchants to walk out. I have seen it once, and it is possible to pass through a large cart. The army from Yulin to Qingcheng was less than 300 miles away. The cavalry rushed for a day and night. Xin Ai's belongings were all in Qingcheng. He could not abandon Qingcheng and flee."

"My plan is to ride in front and infantry behind. Within three days, a large camp will be set up in the south of Qingcheng. The attack on the Tartars was caught off guard."

"Of course, based on this plan, local Tartars also need to respond in advance and gather the army. Then fight an encounter between Yulin and Qingcheng and above the Tumote Grassland."

"Actually, I don't know what the Tartars thought? Xin Ai had a quarrel with other Tartars this year, and he was already in a sure defeat. Before fighting the Tartars, the most worried thing was never to be able to win, but to be afraid that the Tartars would run around. If my army went out of the frontier, the Tartars would burn Qingcheng and retreat. Unless the army had been stationed on the grassland, it would be difficult to deal with once the army retreated and the Tartars counterattacked. Now it seems that even if Xin Ai had the determination to retreat and retreat, where would he escape?"

Zhou Mengchen smiled slightly, and was very satisfied with Qi Jiguang's analysis. This is what he has been planning.

Of course, when Xin Ai decided to take the centralization of the Han people and become stronger, he lost the greatest characteristic of the nomadic people and the ability to migrate at will. Even his reforms offended not only the Mongolian nobles under his rule. Although the grassland is large, the aristocrats on the upper level of the grassland are all in the Borjijin family circle.

If Xin Ai was defeated and defected to other tribes, he might not be taken in.

He thought that the powerful, including soldiers, armor, food, and more people, were not what Zhou Mengchen was most worried about.

He thought he was backward and unbearable. That is, the nomadic characteristics of the Mongols were what Zhou Mengchen was most worried about.

This is to defeat the court, a pity. Such a temple calculation is not something that ordinary people can understand. Zhou Mengchen even felt that although he had not yet fought in this battle, he had already won five points, and the remaining five points were determined to see how he fought. Even if Zhou Mengchen failed the sudden attack, as long as he stabilized his position and fought resolutely, it would take less than a year for Xin Ai to hold on.

Unfortunately, Zhou Mengchen probably didn't have this year either.

Zhou Mengchen could only appreciate the pride in his heart. He said, "What do you think?"

The civil servants didn't say anything. On the side of the military general, Li Ru didn't speak, but Ma Lu said, "What General Qi said is very true. Once the war begins, there are so many magical plans. Isn't it just a fight? As long as the Tartars dare not give up Qingcheng, the rest will be adaptable."

Zhou Mengchen thought for a while and had to admit that the same was true. There are so many magical tricks in the world. It's just a fight.

Zhou Mengchen said: "Is one month enough?"

Qi Jiguang said: "The Battle of Qingcheng, regardless of the outcome, there will always be a conclusion in a month."

Zhou Mengchen said: "It's good, so we'll be in the autumn. However, we must prepare in advance. Lord Yang."

Yang Jisheng said: "The lower official is here."

Zhou Mengchen said: "Prepare double winter clothes for the soldiers. Although we should try our best to withdraw the troops before the winter begins, we must be prepared."

Yang Jisheng said: "Yes."

Zhou Mengchen said: "Now the combat mission is assigned. Starting today, all armies of each unit will start training again. What I mean is that the general Li Ru stayed in Datong, and was in charge of the soldiers in the Beijing camp, as well as civilians recruited from various places. If necessary, they can distribute weapons and include them in the militia. Lingyunyi."

"The official is here." Ling Yunyi said.

Zhou Mengchen said: "You can count the weapons you have changed, seal them up and return them to the furnace. You must have cold weapons armed at least 120,000 people in the garrison near the border and Datong City. There are also a large number of carriages required to send troops this time. You must also prepare."

Ling Yunyi said, "The emperor obeys the order."

Zhou Mengchen said: "Zhou Yichang. In order to command the cavalry, you are the vanguard of the army when you go out to fight. You will attack the city of Qingcheng. At that time, you may have to face 50,000,000, or even more Tartar cavalry. You must protect the entire army and protect the infantry and advance to the city of Qingcheng."

"You can prepare now. Come to me directly if you have anything. No matter what it is, I will solve it for you. But if you can't do this in half a year."

Zhou Yichang's whole body trembled slightly. Most of the generals in Datong were relatively young. This was thanks to Zhou Mengchen's purge of Datong's generals. Even Ma Lu, who was known as a veteran, was only in his forties and could still serve the Ming Dynasty for one or two years. However, Zhou Yichang was different. He was a real veteran and now he has reached 60.

Generals are no better than civil servants. In today's combat environment, the generals must have good physical fitness. And age is very ruthless to everyone, especially for military generals. When they are young, they will come to their doors in their later years. Zhou Yichang also clearly feels that his health is not as good as before.

If it weren't for Zhou Mengchen's care, he would have given him unprecedented power. He controlled the power of 50,000 cavalry. Just looking at the 50,000 cavalry, it seems that there are not many, but in other words, you can tell that there are not many. This is the number one cavalry group in the Ming Dynasty. It not only surpasses the Jing camp, but also exceeds the nine-sided towns, or even the two or three military towns combined, there may not be so many cavalry.
Chapter completed!