choke element

Chapter 85

Guo Ning has always been pessimistic about the situation, and he even had a vague premonition that Zhongdu would definitely change hands in the past two years.But firstly, his plan is very big, and he has to wait for the right time; secondly, this year's drought is extremely hot. According to common sense, the Mongols will wait for the weather to be cooler before taking action.

Therefore, in addition to sending people to China to inquire frequently, he has always remained respectful to Tu Shanyi, hoping to maintain this cooperation as long as possible.

After all, Tu Danyi withstood the threat of Zuo Cheng with one hand, and delivered a large number of weapons and horses to the reckless people with one hand... He gave too much.

But what Guo Ning didn't expect was that even if his trust in the Dajin court was extremely low, it was still too much.And even if his vigilance against the Mongols was extremely high, it was still too little.

Since the defense line collapsed behind Monan Mountain, Dajin's ruled area has retreated to the south of Yanshan Mountain.In the north of Yanshan, there are only a few isolated strongholds left, which are used to inquire about the enemy's situation.

But once the Mongols really moved, these strongholds themselves were either besieged or mercilessly removed.And those who relied on the Wangu and Khitans to form the Qi Army and the Yi Army had already cooperated with the Mongolian Army on a large scale.

In this way, Wanyan Gang, who was in the Jinshan Province, could not grasp the movements of the Mongols, and Zhongdu, who was in the rear, could not grasp it.

Therefore, no matter how hard Guo Ning worked in the military, no matter how actively Du Shisheng was running around, and no matter how sensitive Chu Cai was to the situation in the court, they could not find out the real and reliable military situation.

At the same time that Guo Ning led his troops to Hejian Mansion, Yuanyangbo in the north of Xuande Prefecture, a place called Anguri Naoer by the Mongols, had a stronghold that nominally belonged to the imperial court.

When teams of Mongolian cavalry suddenly appeared on the grassland, the Wangu and Khitan soldiers in the stronghold were only surprised for a moment, then silently stepped aside and opened the door of the stronghold.

Because of the sun and dust, the faces of the Mongolian cavalry were dark, and they looked at the soldiers with cold eyes.Their short and irascible warhorses puffed and puffed, and they rushed into the crowd without stopping.A Mongolian officer asked loudly a few words, but did not get an answer, so he brandished a whip and lashed at the soldiers.

When the soldiers began to flee, the Mongolian cavalry jumped off their horses and broke into houses.

They kicked down the door, removed the wood of the fence, built a bonfire on the spot, and then began to eat fried rice and meat porridge offered by the residents.The soldiers and residents gathered together, kneeling and shivering.

Since the previous year and last year, when they invaded and plundered the Central Plains twice, the equipment level of the Mongolian army has improved significantly.But almost all the cavalry in front of them were wearing armor, which proved their extraordinarily noble status.

A soldier knelt down on the ground and explained softly to the others: If anyone in such a team made a mistake, the combined lives of all the people in the entire stronghold would not be enough to pay for it.

This soldier's knowledge is not bad.

The group of Mongolian cavalry in front of them were Tuluhua guards of the Qixue army under Genghis Khan's tent. Among them was a heroic young man, dressed just like the other guards, but with a golden dagger stuck in his waist.

The young man wolfed down his fill, and said to the crowd, "Guliejian brings people with me. Everyone else should rest well!"

The Mongolian cavalry continued to eat and drink.The man named Guliejian and his twenty cavalry immediately dropped the food in their hands and followed the young man out.

The young man rode his horse and galloped across the prairie.

The closer you get to Angoulie, the more horses you see along the way.

He saw tens of thousands of horses wandering freely on the grassland, as if in disorder.But in fact, these horses are carefully divided into many groups according to their teeth and coat colors. Under the supervision of the herdsmen, the horses are like five-color clouds floating in the wind.

With a mouseskin robe wrapped around his waist, the horse herder with his bare upper body rode a fierce old horse and walked among the horses.They kept yelling and waving their lassoes to intimidate the stallions who wanted to bite each other.

Many people saw the young man from a distance and bowed down to salute.

The young man smiled and waved to them, and quickly passed among the horses.After galloping for another quarter or so, he saw huge Guliyan one by one.

Inside each Guliyan, there are hundreds or even thousands of Mongolian warriors resting, competing in martial arts or competing in archery.

Guriyan, the largest, consists of hundreds of tents.Those who live in the tent are the Qixue Army of the Mongolian Great Khan, that is, the Suwei Army.

This army consists of four veteran generals, Mu Huali, Chilaowen, Boerhu, and Boershu, as the commanders, with a total of 1 people.

Among them are 1000 Huoerchi, the quiver warriors; [-] Kebu Teul, the Fanzhi Suwei.The remaining [-] bald Luhua are scattered classes.These Tuluhua knights are all the children of Mongolian Wanhu, Qianhu, Baihu, Shihu and their followers, so they have another title, called the Proton Army.

Surrounded by the Qixue army, there is the Sulu Ding banner standing tall, a symbol of the Mongolian Khan's invincibility.

The young man dismounted immediately, and circled the Sulu Ding banner from the side.He bent slightly, stepped over the crossed spears of the two quiverers, and walked into the huge tent with the banner.

In the center of the huge tent, there is a huge candlestick inlaid with gold.

Yelu Ahai, a Khitan with broad shoulders and a Chinese-character face, was sitting cross-legged on the white felt beside the candlestick, pointing to a large sheepskin picture, and telling everyone about the arrangement of the Jin army.

Yelu Ahai was well aware of the situation in the Kingdom of Jin, and he was one of the first subordinates who defected to Genghis Khan, so he was respected by everyone.The young man didn't dare to interrupt, so he tiptoed around to the front of the queue and listened carefully.

Yelu Ahai said: "The Jurchens are so cowardly and pitiful. Since last year, they have not dared to herd horses and sheep here. They are all huddled in the city. They would rather keep their heads down and eat dog's tail grass than face us. It's a pity that even those cities were captured by us once. So now their main force is not in Xuande Prefecture, nor in Dexing Mansion, but has shrunk to Jinshan further south."

Hearing his words, the surrounding Mongolian Nayan and the warriors laughed loudly.

Yelu Ahai continued: "The south of Jinshan Mountain is Juyongguan. I heard that the Jurchens closed the gate with melted iron juice, and there are barbed thorns all over the narrow valleys and narrow valleys in Baili, waiting for us to attack!"

The Mongolian generals who were laughing suddenly became quiet again.

These majestic and huge cities, and their dangerous terrain, are the most disgusting things for the Mongols who are accustomed to field warfare.Even if you attack with the courage and strength to kill a thousand people, the city will never move. That kind of frustration is more tormenting than a thousand failures.

When the Mongolian army came here two years ago, the Jurchens, relying on their huge force of 10 people, gathered their forces to confront the Mongolian army four times in a row at Wushabao, Wuyueying, Yehuling, and Huihebao.As a result, he was defeated four times in a row, and finally the army was defeated like a mountain.

Genghis Khan then dispatched troops and generals to pursue the victory, and killed the Jurchen's corpse for hundreds of miles, and the dead covered the wild Saichuan.

Because the defeat was too fast and too fierce, the Jurchen didn't even have enough troops to garrison such a powerful pass as Juyongguan. As a result, the brave general Jebe rushed over. Looting and slaughter.

But if the Jurchens did not fight with their own side from the beginning, but hid in the city like a timid rabbit hiding in a hole... The Mongol generals looked at each other and felt that this move was ridiculous, but apart from ridiculing, they seemed to be There is no way?
At this moment, all eyes were on the throne decorated with gold and precious stones, and on Genghis Khan sitting cross-legged on the throne.

On the grassland as wide as the sea, among the Mongolians as numerous as gravel, only Genghis Khan is the most powerful and wise.

Wherever he goes, no matter how fierce the warrior is, he will bow his head; wherever his eyes touch, even a city like wrought iron will be destroyed; even if it takes ten nails to bald to climb, no one will hesitate half point.

Genghis Khan was tall and strong. Although he was over half a century old and had gray beard and hair, his face was ruddy and he was still full of energy.His eyes sometimes reveal keenness and wisdom, and sometimes they seem to emit a cruel light that only beasts have.

"The Jurchens are timid and reckless; stupid and greedy. So there is nothing to worry about."

Genghis Khan said: "Since they are hiding in Jinshan, we will send a small team to take Xuande Prefecture and Dexing Mansion again, and then rush to Jinshan to provoke them, shoot arrows and set fire to harass them, and use cavalry to cut off their connection with Juyongguan. .The Jurchens will soon lose control and rush out to fight us. At that time, we will pretend to be defeated, lure them all out, and then kill them all in one fell swoop."

Without any discussion or hesitation, Genghis Khan decided on a battle strategy in an instant.And his strategy is always right, that is the special talent bestowed by Changshengtian on Great Khan, and everyone is used to it.

Everyone jumped up at the moment, vying to be the vanguard of the army.

Genghis Khan glanced at the crowd: "This task does not require famous warriors to undertake. As soon as your banner appears, the Jurchens will not dare to leave the city. Therefore, I want a foal that has just left the nest, a smart pony horse to do this. Is there such a man in this tent?"

Before Genghis Khan finished speaking, the young man who had entered the big tent not long ago shouted happily: "Yes, yes! It's me!"

The Mongolian generals present also laughed happily when they heard his cry: "The fourth prince is back!"

This young man is Genghis Khan's fourth and most beloved son Tuo Lei.

In the previous few years, Tuo Lei had been following Genghis Khan and participated in the battles of unifying Mongolia and attacking Xia and Jin.And this time, it was the first time that he led his troops independently and participated in the war.

Genghis Khan also laughed: "Okay, you go with the red horse son-in-law, as long as you lead out the Jurchens, it will be your great contribution!"

"Wise Father Khan, can you tell me, is there a reward for such a great achievement?" Tuolei asked loudly with his face raised.

Genghis Khan was amused by the young man: "What reward do you want?"

Tuolei replied proudly: "I will continue to be a pioneer, and I will conquer Juyongguan for my father!"

Genghis Khan was silent for a while.

The entire big tent fell silent immediately.

Tuo Lei suddenly felt flustered, he didn't know where he said something wrong and offended his father Khan, so he knelt on the ground and put his forehead on the ground.

"This time, we will not go to Juyongguan."

Genghis Khan spoke slowly, and his voice was thick and prudent, which is rarely seen in Mongolians: "After the hounds on the grassland rush to the enemy, they will remember to avoid the heavy leather robe and use their teeth to bite the enemy's throat. You It should be the same. My new subordinates, Shimo Mingan, Guo Baoyu, Liu Bolin and many others told me that in the deep mountains west of Juyongguan, there is a pass where a gazelle runs for three days and three nights. , called Bauhinia Pass. This time, we will attack Hebei in the Kingdom of Jin from Bauhinia Pass.”

Genghis Khan got up and stood by the bonfire, stretched out his palm, and spread his five fingers: "Attract the Jurchens from Jinshan and annihilate them to ensure the safety of our rear. It will take two days. Cross the mountains, find the weak pass, attack Get it and use it for three days. If the little pony does well in Jinshan..."

He held Tuo Lei's shoulder: "Then at Zijing Pass, I will let you stand at the front of the whole army for every enemy I encounter behind."

Tuo Lei was overjoyed.

　Note 1: Gu Liejian means son-in-law.This refers to Chiju (or Chiku), one of the powerful leaders of the Hongji tribe, who is the head of a thousand households and the third daughter of Shang Temujin, the bald manlun of Mongolia.According to the records of Yuan history, Chiju and Tuo Lei jointly conquered Dexing Mansion this year.

Note 2: Gu Liyan refers to a circle-shaped garrison point composed of many tents, and the chief's tent is located in the center of the circle.

Note 3: Desperation means that those who can understand the history of the Yuan Dynasty are not humans, but gods.

　
(End of this chapter)