Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 862 Not a Stepping Stone

The snow fell intermittently, but the north wind howled incessantly. As the Ming soldiers returned south and crossed the vast snowfield, their strength was rapidly depleted, making the journey increasingly difficult.

Even though the soldiers knew they were taking a shortcut, the numerous hardships and dangers on the grasslands led to a generally negative attitude among the soldiers during the second half of the march, resulting in a significant drop in the army's cohesion.

After leaving Yinshan, the troops arrived at an open area and prepared to set up camp and rest when Zhu Hui led his warhorse over.

It wasn't that he didn't want to ride a horse to save energy, but rather that the horse was carrying a lot of belongings. It would be tiring for him and even more tiring for the animals. If his own animal died from exhaustion, there would be one less animal to carry the belongings for the rest of the journey.

Upon reaching this point, the original arrangement of one person with three horses and one animal to carry goods has now been reduced to less than two and a half animals per person on average, and many people even have to piece together their belongings.

When marching through snowdrifts, people should avoid riding horses as much as possible to prevent damage to the horses and conserve their strength... After all, Wang Shouren had patrol missions to complete, and the horses needed to be kept in reserve to gather intelligence.

When Zhu Hui saw Wang Shouren from afar, he said loudly, "I just asked, we have already passed Guanshan, and if we go south for another two hundred li, we will reach Weining Lake."

"If we go south from Weininghai for less than two hundred li, we will enter the Daming Pass... So, we are actually very close to Datong. It's four hundred li, and at our current marching speed, we can get there in six or seven days."

Wang Shouren nodded slightly and said, "In other words, without realizing it, we have already reached the heart of the Tatar Chahar tribe, but why haven't we seen any movement from the Tatars?"

"Hey, where am I supposed to find out?"

Zhu Hui shrugged and said, "I plan to inform the entire army of this news. Brother Wang, don't be too demanding of things, and don't take everything to heart. After all, we've set a precedent in history... With such a small force, we were able to rampage across the grasslands and even bring back military merits... It's unbelievable. The imperial court's reward for this is sure to be substantial."

Wang Shouren seemed uninterested in any rewards or honors, and asked, "General Zhu, don't you have a map? Let me take a look!"

Although Wang Shouren was the commander of this group, he did not hold a formal military position, and maps were not something that ordinary people could possess.

As the heir apparent of the Duke of Baoguo, Zhu Hui's circumstances were far superior to those of ordinary generals.

Before bidding farewell to his son, Zhu Yong specially left him some close followers who could serve as assassins, along with daily necessities for the grasslands, including a map that Li Zisheng had given him, supposedly made by Zhang Yanling.

It was precisely because this map was unique that it caught Wang Shouren's attention.

Zhu Hui's face was full of refusal as he shook his head and said, "Brother Wang, you are an educated man with a sharp mind. You have already looked at my drawing many times and should have memorized it by now... Why do you need to take it out and look at it again? Can't you just go through it in your mind?"

The implication is, why should I always show you my things?

Don't think I don't know what you're up to.

Nominally you agreed to withdraw your troops back to Datong, but in reality you were planning a larger military operation, so you kept plotting to find the traces of the Tatars...

So, what makes us qualified to fight the Tatars?

If you find the main force of the Tatars, you, Wang Shouren, will be satisfied. You will lead us to fight to the death. It doesn't matter if you die, but my brothers and I will become stepping stones for your success.
Hmph, I'm not so stupid as to let you manipulate me!

Wang Shouren asked, "Then... if we don't head south, but instead search eastward from here..."

"Stop."

Zhu Hui interrupted Wang Shouren rudely this time, after all, Wang Shouren was just a nominal commander-in-chief. In terms of his status in the court, Wang Shouren was the kind of commoner without official rank and not worth mentioning.

No matter how much Wang Shouren gained Wang Yue's trust, Zhu Hui no longer wanted his fate to be controlled by others, especially since Wang Shouren had been trying to drag him to his death. He would not listen to Wang Shouren.

“Brother Wang, if I remember correctly, you once said that on the way back to Datong, we should check for any traces of the Tatars. If we continue eastward from here, it would be like breaking our promise to the soldiers. They certainly won’t be able to accept such a huge difference, and what if they mutini?” Zhu Hui questioned.

Wang Shouren was somewhat annoyed when he heard this.

In his view, a disciplined army should be able to obey orders without question, and the authority of the commander-in-chief should not be violated.

But this general in front of me always tries to interfere in the grand plan, and even wants to dominate everything... Isn't this clearly challenging my bottom line?
If Wang Shouren was indeed the commander-in-chief sent by the imperial court, he would surely have taught Zhu Hui a lesson, making him distinguish between primary and secondary roles and understand what is truly needed on the battlefield.

But right now...

He could only suppress his anger and explain, "The troops have not been properly rested and are restless. If we do not improve the low morale of the army in time, if the Tatars suddenly attack, the whole army will be in chaos and there will be no hope of recovery."

"What...does this mean?"

Zhu Hui looked at Wang Shouren with a bewildered expression.

Wang Shouren said, "We will send out a force to search for the main force of the Tatars along the way. Even if we want to withdraw to Datong smoothly, we will have to fight and retreat at the same time."

Zhu Hui had a look on his face that was both funny and exasperating, as if to say, "You're still so stubbornly clinging to your delusions."

"Brother Wang, aren't we just searching for traces of the Tatars while we're marching?"

Zhu Hui said, "We only have so few people, and we have to divide our forces again. If we really encounter the main force of the Tartars, what difference is there between us and sitting and waiting to die? We're even fighting and retreating at the same time. You really are Wang Junmen's favorite student. Even your tone of voice is exactly the same."

Wang Shouren's face darkened, and he asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Although Wang Shouren didn't think it was shameful to be associated with Wang Yue, it was clear that Zhu Hui wasn't saying anything nice.

Zhu Hui rolled his eyes at Wang Shouren and said, "General Wang, you just keep talking about fighting, attacking, attacking, and then retreating. But the problem is, we're already in such a desperate situation, and you're still unilaterally emphasizing that willpower can play a role... Do you want all of us to perish on the grasslands before you're satisfied with your demands?"
"What is the purpose of war? Isn't it to defend our homes and have a few days of peace? If everyone dies, where will we find peace?"

Wang Shouren appeared very angry: "This is for their wives and children, for their descendants, and even more so for the long-term achievements of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Hui sneered and said, "They're all gone. They can't see any of what you're saying. Why do you care about this and that instead of yourself?"

“We’re not cowards either. We’ve followed you all over the country, traveled all over the grasslands, and done things that have been life-threatening. Many of our brothers have even lost their lives… We’re already so exhausted, and morale is starting to waver. Do you still have to use your high-sounding principles to intimidate us?”

"This……"

Wang Shouren, having little experience interacting with ordinary soldiers, was momentarily speechless.

Zhu Hui said, “Brother Wang, you are a scholar and you always like to use grand principles to intimidate people, which is understandable. But the brothers risk their lives just to have food to eat, to have a wife to take care of them when they go back, and to create a good environment for their children to grow up in. That’s all.”

"Who wasn't born of a father and mother? If they die on the grasslands, who will take care of their wives, children, and elderly parents? I'm telling you this right now: if you're still focused on fighting, the brothers will definitely have a lot of complaints. We can't even command this small number of people. Just wait and see!"

"Ok."

Wang Shouren finally compromised.

He simply couldn't compete with Zhu Hui.

Because he realized that Zhu Hui now represented the opinion of the vast majority of people in the army, and no one took Wang Shouren seriously anymore.

On the contrary, Zhu Hui, who always considered the interests of the soldiers, was more popular.

……

……

Wang Shouren's group passed Guanshan and headed south, where the terrain was flat... This area was already grassland in the traditional sense.

Since the Han and Tang dynasties, nomadic peoples of the grasslands have gradually encroached on the pastures south of the Yin Mountains. The Tatars have grazed their livestock here for generations. Even without building cities, the division of power was very clear. Especially in winter, when herders migrate south, they would come to this grassland to spend the winter.

but now……

The vast grassland was deserted and looked exceptionally desolate.

Wang Shouren stopped pressuring the matter, and when his troops were less than a hundred miles from Weininghai, he finally received different intelligence.

"Traces of the main Tatar forces have been discovered..."

When the messenger brought the news that night, Wang Shouren's eyes regained their light.

Zhu Hui stood by the fire, laughing and scolding, "Don't talk nonsense. We haven't seen a single Tartar along the way. Maybe it's warmer in the northern desert this year, so they haven't come down?"

Wang Shouren said with dissatisfaction, "General Zhu, what do you mean by that? You haven't even understood the intelligence yet, and you're already denying it?" He then turned to the scout and called out, "Come here and explain the situation clearly!"

"Yes!"

The scout, moving closer, noticed that Wang Shouren had already stood up, looking like he was listening attentively, and instantly felt respected. Zhu Hui, standing nearby, felt resentful…

Zhu Hui clearly knew that the scout couldn't possibly be lying. His denial was still intended to ensure the troops could return to the Ming Dynasty smoothly without any setbacks along the way.

If Wang Shouren was the person in the army who most wanted to fight, then Zhu Hui was the person who least wanted to fight.

He felt that he had already made enough contributions, and as the future Duke of Baoguo, he did not have much desire for titles or military achievements. All he needed to do was to make the world think that he was competent.

The scout said solemnly, "Traces of Tatar troops have been discovered twenty miles to the northeast. They seem to be heading north. There is also another group of troops coming down from the north, which seems to be... a change of guard."

Wang Shouren said, "Alright, send someone to check it out immediately and see what's going on."

"Brother Wang, have you gone mad?"

Zhu Hui quickly stopped him, "Putting aside the fact that this twenty-mile stretch is different from our pre-planned marching route, what can you do if you go there?"
"We are severely understaffed and our morale is low. It would be best to withdraw to the border as soon as possible!"

Wang Shouren demanded sternly, "The Tatars are right before our eyes. General Zhu, are you trying to avoid battle?"

"I……"

Zhu Hui never expected that Wang Shouren would accuse him of such a serious crime at this time.

"If you won't go, I'll personally lead a group."

Wang Shouren said with a serious expression, "We can't send too many people at once, to make sure the Tatars don't find out... I'll take fifty riders and sneak over to check first."

Zhu Hui panicked and hurriedly said, "If you take fifty men with you, and the Tartars discover your tracks, there's a good chance you won't be able to come back!"

Wang Shouren frowned and asked, "So, you mean to ignore this important discovery? The Tatar army is currently gathering just twenty miles away from us. Don't you want to find out exactly what they're up to?"

"The problem is, even if you figure it out, what can you do about it?" Zhu Hui retorted. "We've been through thick and thin together, haven't we? We crawled out of piles of corpses together, don't you even have that much awareness?"

Wang Shouren never expected that Zhu Hui would talk to him about their "life-and-death" friendship at this moment.

This means that they know they can't stop him by any other means.

Wang Shouren said, "After a series of battles, although we have used up more than half of our musket ammunition, we still have basic combat strength. In particular, we have enough food and supplies. Apart from what was burned, the remaining wealth we acquired is enough to last until the Ming reinforcements arrive."

"You're thinking……"

Zhu Hui suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "Send someone to Datong for help?"

Zhu Hui increasingly felt that Wang Shouren was a dangerous person.

But if he chooses to retreat now, and Wang Shouren reports him to the emperor, saying that Zhu Hui retreated when faced with the enemy... this would be a serious crime in the Ming Dynasty.

If you charge in and the Tatars don't fight you, that's fine.

But if you encounter an enemy and do not fight, even in the heart of the Tatar territory, this is a disgrace and sin that no warrior can bear.

Of course, one option was to simply execute Wang Shouren, but that would be a much bigger crime. After all, Wang Yue had specifically assigned people to protect Wang Shouren, and the army didn't know who the emperor's spies were. With a force of two thousand men, the chances of keeping it a secret were extremely slim.

For Zhu Hui, things have not yet escalated to the point where he has to take a desperate gamble.

“Brother Wang, I can agree to take some men to scout the enemy's situation, but if things don't look good, we'll retreat immediately. If you agree, I'll go with you.”

Zhu Hui said, "After all, when it comes to fighting, one must act according to one's capabilities and not be reckless."

Wang Shouren asked, "Am I the kind of person who acts tough?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Hui shook his head and smiled bitterly.

If you're not someone else, then who are?
You dare to cross the grasslands with only two thousand men?

Do they really think of the armed tribes of the grasslands as weaklings?
“You may not be, but your style of doing things is too much like that General Wang.”

Zhu Hui was quite helpless.

Some people are full of bad habits but refuse to admit them, and they even feel good about themselves. Do you think it's interesting to torment your soldiers?

"Okay, I promise you."

Wang Shouren said, "The purpose of this trip is not to fight the Tatars, but to find out their movements so that we can give an explanation to the court when we return."

……

……

The troops then moved northeast to lie in wait.

Panic began to spread throughout the army, as not everyone knew what was happening ahead. Even Wang Shouren himself said that he was only going to spy on the enemy.

But it's obvious that the entire army is heading towards the area where the Tatars are gathered, and there's a high chance they'll clash with the Tatars.

"Young Master, everyone below is asking what exactly happened."

General Ma Hong stepped forward, his expression full of tension.

Zhu Hui rode slowly on his horse and said in a low voice, "That Military Advisor Wang said that we are going to spy on the enemy's situation, and we will retreat if things don't look good."

"You actually believe this kind of nonsense?"

Ma Hong said, "If a real battle breaks out, who knows what will happen... Anyway, our brothers have already earned enough military merits. Based on the gains from that previous battle, we'll receive a substantial reward when we get back..."

Zhu Hui said, “That’s the problem. I led five hundred men to raid the Tatar camp. According to Wang Canjun, the military merits should be distributed equally among the entire army. After all, all the soldiers were assigned by Wang Weining. So now, those people are still willing to support the Wang family.”

Ma Hong frowned and said, "If all else fails, then we'll just follow his merit-based distribution plan..."

"How can we just divide up the military merits we've already earned?" Zhu Hui's face was full of displeasure. "That battle was fought to the death by our brothers. In one night, all the casualties were our men. Do we have to listen to Military Advisor Wang? He'd love to distribute the credit equally, and he even wants to take the main credit for himself."

"This one……"

Although Ma Hong did not consider Wang Shouren to be "one of his own," he disagreed with Zhu Hui's claim that Wang Shouren wanted to steal credit.

Despite the rejection, the facts must be stated.

If it weren't for Wang Shouren, Zhu Hui would never have achieved military merit.

"In a critical moment, shouldn't we find a few people with weapons to be ready..."

Ma Hong asked tentatively.

Zhu Hui frowned: "What do you mean by that? At such a critical moment, you still want to stage a mutiny? With just a few of us, is it really necessary?"

Ma Hongdao said, "Isn't this something we need to prevent? What if they attack you over there?"

"What kind of talk is that? Does he think he can put a knife to my throat and force me to fight alongside him?" Zhu Hui was clearly not worried.

But as soon as he finished speaking, after a brief moment of reflection, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Given Wang Shouren's "madness," what wouldn't he do?

"Let's take a few people with us."

Zhu Hui said, "I always keep my musket with me, and it's always by my side. At times like these, whoever can take charge of military affairs can control the future direction of the troops... Anyway, I want to return to Datong as soon as possible."

Ma Hong quickly replied, "I feel the same way. Who wouldn't want to go back and enjoy a comfortable life?"

(End of this chapter)