Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 855 Attitude Determines Everything

The Ming army successfully withdrew from the northern foothills of Yinshan Mountain.

After entering the plains south of Yinshan, the weather showed no signs of improvement, and the army continued to march southwest along the route they had come from.

By this time, the Yellow River had frozen over, and the fleet belonging to the three border regions had withdrawn to Ningxia Town. After careful inspection, the vanguard found that the ice on the Yellow River was more than three feet thick, and the army could pass through without any hindrance. Thus, Wang Yue led his troops across the Yellow River and successfully entered Aordusi, which later became the Ordos Grassland.

The Oerdusi were originally a tribe that guarded the mausoleum of Genghis Khan, residing in the heart of the Mongolian Plateau between the Altai and Khentii Mountains. In the sixth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty, Maolihai, the leader of the Ordos tribe, moved to the Hetao region with the "Eight White Houses." Unaware of the true reason, the Ming Dynasty gradually named the eastern Hetao region Oerdusi.

Through a coup, Maolihai successively installed Maqurgis and Togus Mengke as Great Khans of the Mongols, effectively seizing supreme power among the Tatars. After Togus Mengke was killed, Maolihai continued to control the situation until he was defeated by Mandulu and Boluohu in the eleventh year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty.

After Maolihai's last Great Khan, Togus Mengke, was defeated by Boluohu, Maolihai's power gradually disintegrated. Mandulu emerged victorious in the ensuing chaos, becoming the thirty-first Great Khan of the steppe. Mandulu had no heir, and his wife, Lady Manduhai, subsequently supported Batu Mengke as Dayan Khan. Manduhai herself perished in the great battle during Wang Yue's surprise attack on Weininghai. This illustrates the rise and fall of steppe power in recent decades.

For several days in a row, Wang Shouren, who was in charge of the rearguard, sent people to investigate the movements of the Tatars.

As a model of scholars who were granted titles alongside Wang Yue in the mid-Ming Dynasty, Wang Shouren, despite his young age, already placed great importance on intelligence gathering and analysis. Although he was not in charge of the scout team, he divided his more than 1,000 subordinates into three groups and had them take turns to spy on the movements of the Tatars.

The furthest distance was as far as fifty or sixty li from the rear army of the Ming Dynasty.

Because Wang Shouren constantly sent out troops to gather information from all sides of the grasslands, the Tatars were extremely unclear about the movements of the Ming army. From the Tatar prince to the ordinary cavalrymen, they were all afraid of a direct confrontation with the Ming army led by Wang Yue. Therefore, the Tatars avoided the Ming army's scout teams as much as possible and behaved rather passively.

That day, Wang Shouren suddenly realized that something seemed amiss with the current situation. To be on the safe side, he first went to see Zhu Yong.

“Duke Baoguo, the Tatars seem to have no intention of moving south. Their main force stopped at the Yinshan line. Currently, the troops following behind us are just small harassing forces.”

Wang Shouren immediately shared his insights upon arrival.

Zhu Yong's expression remained calm: "We've already retreated, so why are the Tatars still chasing after us? Are they just looking for trouble? If they had the guts to fight our army to the death, they would have come long ago! Now that Commander Wang has ordered us to withdraw, the entire army only needs to return to Yansui according to plan, without causing any unnecessary trouble."

Wang Shouren said, "What if the Tatars have redeployed their main force because of renewed fighting in other directions on the grasslands?"

"Nephew Wang, what do you mean by that?"

Zhu Yong didn't seem to understand.

Wang Shouren immediately thought that what Wang Zhongcheng had said to him earlier might not have been said to the Duke of Baoguo.

In particular, regarding the possibility that Zhang's second son might send troops from Datong, it was merely Wang Zhongcheng's unfounded speculation. He trusted me greatly, which is why he told me this. So Wang Shouren cautiously suggested, "Is there a possibility of a rebellion within the Tatars?"

"How can this be?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yong's face showed a mocking expression, and he said sarcastically, "Even if there were, could such a conclusion be drawn based solely on the existing intelligence? Nephew Wang, you have made great contributions this time. Just go back and wait for the court's reward. Why do you need to add unnecessary details?"

Wang Shouren scrutinized Zhu Yong with keen eyes and said, "I originally thought that the Duke of Baoguo should share my eagerness for a battle."

Zhu Yong's smile froze instantly, and he said sternly, "As a general of the Ming army, ensuring the safety of my troops is my duty; nothing else is worth mentioning."

Wang Shouren said, "But... previously, Vice Minister Wang had been forbidding you from leading troops at the front. Even when the opportunity to fight was right in front of you, he immediately transferred you to guard the supply route. Are you willing to accept that?"

"you……"

Zhu Yong never expected that Wang Shouren would be so "bold"!
Wang Yue was clearly a young man who was promoted by Wang Yue, who appreciated him and gave him the opportunity to perform. But now he is sowing discord in front of outsiders.
Wang Shouren solemnly said, "I believe that we should stop retreating at this time and send people back to the pass to urge for food and supplies. We can prepare for war on the spot and when the time is right, we can go straight to Weininghai... I think that by now the Heihe River and the Daheihe River are frozen, and there will be no more obstacles to going east."

Why don't you say that to General Wang?

Zhu Yong finally lost his good temper, rolled his eyes and said, "I can't make a decision! Besides, the army's food reserves are good enough to last until we retreat to the Ming Dynasty. Even so, the soldiers will have to cut back on food and clothing... Do you think General Wang doesn't want to stay on the grasslands? He's just unwilling to take the risk!"

"I understand."

Wang Shouren said.

Zhu Yongxin was furious, thinking to himself, "If you know that, why are you still saying this?"

Wang Shouren continued, "Indeed, stopping the retreat now would risk running out of supplies, which might give the Tatars an opportunity to exploit. But without taking risks, how can we build unparalleled achievements?"

Zhu Yongxin exclaimed, "Holy crap!"

The army is almost out of food. They could have safely withdrawn back to the Ming Dynasty's territory, but they insist on waiting on the grasslands, waiting for supplies to be sent from the rear.

“Your Highness… Nephew.”

Zhu Yong said helplessly, "Do you think... there's some misunderstanding about transporting grain in the army? We have grain for tens of thousands of soldiers, and the daily consumption is astronomical. It's difficult to transport it all at once in a short time. Even if we send a fast horse back to inform them and organize manpower to transport it... is there enough time?"

Wang Shouren said, "I would like to ask the Duke of Baoguo to accompany me to see Wang Zhongcheng so that he can make the decision."

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "My job is to oversee the rear army, and I cannot leave without permission. Nephew, if you want to ask General Wang for permission, do so as you see fit. I will not overstep my bounds."

He was polite on the surface, but in his heart he was thinking, "A young man is still a young man; a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger."

This shows a lack of experience in dealing with people and situations.

Wang Shichang would never have considered retreating if he hadn't been forced into a corner. Now that he has made his decision, can you pull him back halfway?

The problem is, the Tatars haven't shown any obvious weaknesses. Aren't you just making a fool of yourself?

Wang Shouren seemed somewhat disappointed with Zhu Yong, and said sullenly, "I would like to meet with the garrison commander and others."

"There's nothing I can do about that."

Zhu Yong shrugged and said, "Perhaps General Wang can help you. Bo'an, relax, you've already done very well, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"The soldiers are eager to go home. If they know they will not be able to eat and are forced to fight a powerful enemy to the death, especially in such terrible weather, who can endure it?"

"Nephew, we must prioritize the greater good!"

……

……

Wang Shouren did not receive support from Zhu Yong, but he still insisted on meeting Wang Yue.

Wang Yue did not grant him an audience this time.

Instead, they sent someone to have him return to the rear army.

"I want to see Wang Zhongcheng."

Wang Shouren insisted on authenticity.

The messenger was one of Wang Yue's close aides, who politely said, "Young Master Wang, the General has caught a cold these past few days and has a persistent high fever. He needs to rest for a few days. Besides, your recent sending people around to investigate information is actually... not really necessary. Some things... should be left undone."

Wang Shouren suddenly felt that Wang Yue had become a stranger.

It was Wang Yue who promoted me and placed me in an important position, so why won't he see me when it comes to the crucial moment?
Wang Shouren said, "This matter concerns military secrets, and I must see him! If I cannot see him, I will not return! Please inform him again."

"Then... please wait a moment."

The attendant could only go and inform them again.

……

...Wang Yue is actually in his tent right now. He doesn't have any serious illness, just some common winter symptoms like a stuffy nose and cough. But he's feeling unwell, so he refuses to see any guests.

Upon his return, he will not only face attacks from court officials, but may even lose his official position for disobeying the emperor's will...

As for the title, the number of enemies he has killed so far is not enough for him to regain it. Whether he can get Zhang Luan's support is of paramount importance.

He had a rough idea of ​​why Wang Shouren had come here.

Wang Yue, however, sensed that his mission was over.

"Tell him..."

Wang Yue said to his entourage, "If he wants to stay on the grassland, we can transfer a batch of grain to him from other camps. At most, we can leave him a thousand new soldiers. There is no room for maneuver for the rest!"

"Even if we know there's a great show to watch on the grasslands in the future, the stage for that show is too far away from us! It's not that I'm not ambitious, it's just... I can't reach it."

Wang Shouren passed away with some regrets.

Wang Yue eventually reassigned the troops to other men, leaving them with provisions. As for what these thousand men could do, no one knew.

After his attendant informed Wang Shouren of his departure, Wang Yue's face showed even more regret.

The supervising eunuch Cao Shen, standing nearby, asked in bewilderment, "Your Highness, why won't you see him? Wouldn't it be alright to just meet him?"

"I'm afraid I'll be swayed by him."

Wang Yue said with emotion.

"Are you afraid...?"

Cao Shen found it increasingly unbelievable.

Wang Yue sighed, "I'm getting old, and I don't know when I've become so pragmatic... Now all I want is to secure the title peacefully. I can't afford to fail, so I can only choose to avoid it. Actually, I know Wang Bo'an's intentions very well. If even he can see it, how could I not?"

Cao Shen asked in shock, "You mean, you also think that Military Advisor Wang's plan is correct, that we should stay on the grassland and observe the situation? And let the three border regions send grain here?"

Wang Yue said, "You find it incredible, don't you?"

"This one……"

Cao Shen was at a loss for words.

Wang Yue was in high spirits at this moment. He looked at the map hanging in the tent and said, "The recent movements of the Tatars are indeed too abnormal. If I were the Tatar commander, I would definitely proceed step by step and force us into the pass before I would feel at ease, and then take credit for the restoration of the Oerdusi."

"It is Bo'an's foresight and courage that enabled him to anticipate the enemy's moves. Most of the intelligence I have here was gathered by his men."

Cao Shen asked, "What did you find out?"

Wang Yue said, "The Tatars are moving their troops back."

"What?"

Cao Shen seemed surprised and asked, "So, there really was a rebellion within the Tatars? Even the Tatar prince had to call back troops to deal with the internal troubles?"

Wang Yue shook his head and said, "It's definitely not an internal turmoil within the Tatars. It seems that the troops sent from Datong have been very effective and have begun to threaten the Tatars, forcing them to withdraw troops from our side to provide reinforcements."

"This……"

Cao Shen frowned and said, "This doesn't make any sense at all! Why would the Tatars choose to guard against the troops of Datong instead of a renowned general like you? How many troops can Datong send at once? And who is leading them? Even you were forced to retreat. What would be the point of Datong sending troops?"

"I'd like to ask that too."

Wang Yue wore a wry smile.

This made Cao Shen even more incredulous.

Wang Yue was apparently unaware of the military arrangements in Datong?
Wang Yue said, "The young imperial uncle of the Zhang family foresaw the power of the new-style firearms from the very beginning, and vigorously trained the new army. Later, he even led troops to Nanjing to quell local bandits, break the monopoly of established forces on local commerce, and then went to Huizhou to unite a large number of Huizhou merchants to form a commercial alliance. He quickly returned to the north and then plunged into Datong..."

Cao Shen asked, "So, this time, the military expedition from Datong was likely led by the Zhang family's young imperial brother-in-law? But I wonder which official from Datong is leading the troops? Could it be Xu Jin, the governor of Datong?"

"I don't think so."

Wang Yue said, "If we need to send troops, the young imperial uncle of the Zhang family can do it himself. Why do we need to rely on others? Besides, with his boldness, if there is any major turmoil on the grasslands, it must be him stirring up trouble."

"Then you..."

Cao Shen really wanted to ask, if things are really as you've figured it out, are you still willing to leave?
Why not stay and wait to get a share of the profits?

Wang Yue said, "I have already sent someone to report my achievements. According to the usual practice, the merits I have accumulated so far are enough for me to reclaim what I have lost. I don't want to add anything more. Alas, it is precisely because I have lost my ambition, yet I am still unwilling to give up, that I have allowed Wang Bo'an to stay on the grassland to see if there is any opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

Cao Shen nodded and said, "Yes, someone like Wang Gong, who has already reached a high position and achieved brilliant success, naturally cannot be like an ordinary person who guards his own little plot of land while keeping an eye on other people's territory, trying to squeeze more benefits into his own bowl... He naturally has many concerns."

"Ah."

Wang Yue said, “As a politician, I am now in charge of the military and political affairs of the three border regions, so I naturally have many concerns. I have to think about the prejudices that the people in the court have against me, and how to deal with them... I think if I have the opportunity to regain my title, I may be sent to guard the border again, and I will have to continue to deal with the people in the court.”

Cao Shen tentatively asked, "Doesn't His Majesty hope that you can pacify the grasslands in one fell swoop?"

Wang Yue remained silent with a dark expression.

How dare you speak like that? Do you even know what it means to "raise an enemy to enhance one's own prestige"?

If the emperor really conquers the grasslands in one fell swoop, then what use is there for me, Wang Yue?
Once the birds are all gone, the bow is put away; once the rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked!
The Wang family's glory is destined to last only a short time, and they will soon face the tragic fate of having their titles stripped!

Cao Shen said, "I just don't know how we should explain this to the court. Leaving behind a force, and letting a young man without any official rank lead it? I'm afraid that people in the court will have opinions about this..."

The implication is, why don't you keep someone else?
Why leave Wang Shouren, a young man of similar spirit and ambition to Zhang Yanling, behind? You may admire him, but how will you explain to the court that you've left him alone to lead troops on the grasslands?

Wang Yue sighed and said, "I have already reported to the Emperor that he has been temporarily appointed to an important military position and that someone has been sent to assist him... Could it be that Eunuch Cao intends to stay and make a name for himself?"

As he spoke, Wang Yue gave him a threatening look.

You've been too talkative and questioned my stance!
If you keep talking nonsense, I'll leave you on the grassland and let you experience what it means to be helpless and have no one to help you.

Cao Shen said, "Should we congratulate you in advance, Your Highness? With this achievement, you have killed and captured three or four thousand bandits. This achievement alone is enough to be recorded in history."

Wang Yue shook his head and said, "Your Majesty's pursuit is vastly different from that of the late Emperor. Your Majesty desires the great achievement of pacifying the grasslands, but unfortunately, I do not have that ability. If I insist on demonstrating my merits, the result will likely be... nothing at all. However... what is due will eventually come."

"Yes, it's yours, it will always be yours, no one can take it away."

Cao Shen said this, but in his heart he was thinking:
The Zhang family, especially the young imperial brother-in-law Zhang, is an absolute exception. If he really wants to steal your credit, you won't be able to explain yourself even if you have a hundred mouths, because the emperor only trusts the Zhang family father and son.

Your decision to withdraw troops this time seems decisive, but if it is indeed Zhang Xiaoguojiu who resolutely sends troops to the grasslands, this move will clearly put the other side in a dangerous situation. Let's see how Zhang Guozhang will deal with you.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. After returning to the border, I will keep my distance from you to avoid being affected.

(End of this chapter)