Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 966 Internal and external cooperation
Thanks to the Ming army's morale explosion, Azhashili's first wave of offensive against the Ming army line ultimately failed. The Ming army, which had reorganized its front line, fought and retreated, and when it retreated to a dirt hill, it relied on the dirt hill and finally gained a firm foothold.

However, Azashiri was not an easy person to deal with. He led more than 10,000 troops to surround the 3,000 Ming troops, making it impossible for them to get out.

Azashiri's eyes were red with anxiety, he had no way out. He was determined to get Zhu Xiongying.

Zhu Xiongying was also anxious. With 3,000 to 10,000, the Ming army was at an absolute disadvantage. Moreover, Azhashiri was like a trapped beast. It was because of nightfall that the Taining army temporarily stopped the offensive. But as soon as the sky got light, Azhashiri would most likely be desperate and launch a fierce attack on the Ming army at all costs.

Morale is strong at one time, but weak at another. Although he had boosted morale by killing the enemy today, if he wanted to repeat the same trick next time, it would certainly not have the same effect as today.

"Your Highness." On the hill, Fang Xiaoru suggested to Zhu Xiongying, "Toutuo, the son of Azhashiri, is still in our hands. Why don't we use Toutuo as a hostage in exchange for Azhashiri letting us leave?"

"At least, it can make Azashili cautious and shake the morale of the army..."

Zhu Xiongying approved his request and sent people to negotiate with Azashili.

Unexpectedly, within an incense stick of time, the Ming soldier who was sent to deliver the message to Azhashili hurried back, knelt down and reported to Zhu Xiongying: "Your Highness, Azhashili sent me back, saying that he had nothing to say to us."

"He also said that we can kill Tuotuo if we want, but he...he has more than one son, Tuotuo!"

Azashili was a typical Mongolian noble. Compared with the affection of family, he valued power and wealth more. As for offspring... as long as he had a son, it would be fine. How could he be willing to let go of Zhu Xiongying, a juicy bun related to his future, just because of a Tuotuo?
However, no one expected that Azhashili would sell his own son directly to the Ming Dynasty without any hesitation.

"Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs, so why is Azhashili so cruel?" Fang Xiaoru said with a changed face.

He really couldn't imagine how there could be such a beastly father in the world.

"The Yuan people value profit over loyalty, and Azashili is even more of a beast, so it is not surprising that he would do such an inhuman act." Xie Jin said. Then he turned around, bowed to Zhu Xiongying and said, "Your Highness, please allow me to personally go to the Taining camp."

"For this beast Azhashili, it is better to use force than to persuade him with emotion. The Daning Commandery of our Ming Dynasty is strong and powerful. He dares to abandon his own son, but he may not dare to bully the more than 100,000 Northern Frontier soldiers of our Ming Dynasty with weak swords in their hands!"

"If he continues to be stubborn, with our Daningdusi surrounding him on three sides, can he still escape with his entire army?"

"I will tell this to Azashili, maybe he won't dare to do anything rash to Your Highness. At the very least, it can delay the time."

Xie Jin's words were reasonable. Zhu Xiongying nodded and asked someone to escort Xie Jin to the Taining camp. He thought to himself that it would be good even if it could only delay the time.

This way, you can be a few steps more prepared.

Unexpectedly, within an incense stick of time, Xie Jin also came back. He said anxiously, "Your Highness, something bad has happened!"

"What? Did Azashiri reject our request again?" Zhu Xiongying asked anxiously.

Unexpectedly, Xie Jin shook his head and said, "Your Highness, now it is not a matter of whether Azashili refuses or not."

"I learned a terrible piece of news from them today."

Then, without waiting for Zhu Xiongying and Fang Xiaoru to ask further questions, Xie Jin hurriedly said: "Azashili admitted that his rebellion this time was in collusion with the Tatars..."

"I think now, Alutai of the Tatar tribe has begun to cooperate with Azhashili to attack Quanningwei!"

"What?" Zhu Xiongying and a group of Ming army generals couldn't help but change color.

The Tatars did not flee north in panic...are they still near Daning?

As a widely recognized member of the Golden Family on the grasslands, Bayanchur had a very strong appeal on the grasslands. Compared with this appeal of the "Grassland Khan", even Azhashili's rebellion seemed insignificant to the Ming Dynasty.

To everyone's surprise, the Tatars who suddenly appeared undoubtedly had the strength to raid a corner of the Daningdusi.

Even though Zhu Xiongying did not have much combat experience, he could understand that the current situation was very unfavorable to him: he thought it was just Azhashiri who was confused, but he did not expect that this matter was actually related to the Tatars!
Originally, he wanted to use Xie Jin's threat to shake Azashiri's military morale. After all, even if Azashiri successfully captured Zhu Xiongying, as long as Chang Mao did not let go, he might not be able to escape with his troops.

However, if the Tatars and the Taining tribe work together, it would be different: as long as the Tatars successfully launch a sneak attack on the Quanning Guard, it would be equivalent to opening a gap for Azhashili.

After capturing Zhu Xiongying, Azashiri could have passed through this gap, joined forces with the Tatars, and calmly withdrawn from the Daningdusi.

Even if he could not be captured, Azashiri had no way out and could retreat calmly.

"Is the information accurate?" Zhu Xiongying asked. "Could it be that Azashili is deliberately creating confusion in order to disrupt our morale?"

"If Azhashili had rebellious intentions long ago, the Tatars might indeed be hiding nearby under his protection... It's hard to be optimistic about this matter." Xie Jin shook his head.

Everyone was silent for a long time, and Yang Lu just asked weakly: "Then... Your Highness."

"What should we do now?"

"There's no other way..." Zhu Xiongying sighed helplessly. "We can only hold on for now... and see how the situation develops."

Indeed, the incident happened suddenly and they did not have many cards to play.

On the morning of the second day, Azashiri could not wait to launch a fierce attack. Fortunately, the Ming army had dug trenches at night and relied on the musket formation to successfully repel the attack of Taining's troops at sunset.

However, after a day of fierce fighting, the Ming army's fortifications and gunpowder reserves had been almost completely depleted. Tomorrow, relying only on flesh and blood and sloppy trenches, it would be difficult to stop Azashiri's attack tomorrow.

"If we don't think of some solutions, then we will just be waiting to die," Fang Xiaoru said in annoyance.

"But now, what strategies can we use?" Xie Jin was also frustrated. "After hearing the news that the Tatars attacked Quanning Guard, the morale of the soldiers in the army has been shaken."

"Our military strength is far inferior to Azashili's... With one side outstripping the other, even ordinary strategies may not work."

Zhu Xiongying suddenly had an idea and came up with a plan.

"Gentlemen, what do you think if we win over Tuotuo and let him disrupt the morale of the Taining army?"

(End of this chapter)