Chapter Eighteen: Calculations

  After a while, Huang Taiji's face revealed a triumphant smile, and he walked to the door, instructing his personal guards: "Immediately summon all the Beile in Chongzheng Hall for discussion, saying that there is an urgent matter, come quickly, no excuses."

  The princes had just gotten into their warm beds when they were called up again by Huang Taiji and couldn't help but secretly complain in their hearts.

  After everyone arrived, Huang Taiji reported the situation once. However, Huang Taiji dug a hole and only said that the Mongolian Duoyan Department was extremely dissatisfied with the Ming country, expressed its willingness to rely on our Da Jin, and was willing to lend us a way to go to the Ming country together to get rich.

  Since everyone has no other way, I have decided to take a detour through Mongolia and enter the pass from Xifengkou to make a fortune. Whoever doesn't go should come up with a better idea. This time, the whole army will be mobilized, and only a small number of troops will be left on the front line in Jinzhou.

  Some people gave up and said that if they took a detour, the cities on the other side of the border would be as difficult to deal with as Jinzhou, so it was better to either grit their teeth and persevere or retreat in defeat.

  Emperor Taizong said: "We now have little surplus grain, Jinzhou is also unable to be attacked, for the life and death of the Great Jin, we detour so far to attack the Ming country, encountering hard-to-chew bones, I am willing to lead my own Banners first, and pave a bloody road for everyone."

  Does everyone have any other opinions? If there are no more opinions, then go back and mobilize all the forces under your own flag to prepare for a big fortune.

  The rest of the people either had no better ideas, or when they encountered difficulties, Huang Taiji would take the lead himself. Each had their own ulterior motives, so no one opposed it. Let's go home and pack our things.

  In the third year of Tiancong, October, also in the second year of Chongzhen, Huang Taiji ordered Fan Wencheng to draft an imperial edict, proclaiming to all Jurchen tribes: We are good people, but the Ming dynasty has repeatedly bullied us, with seven great hatreds. With no other choice, we rose up in resistance and only then did we have a place to stand. We truly do not want to fight, we just want to live in peace, but the Ming dog emperor again looks down on us and does not allow us to establish our nation. Now there is no other way, we can only rise up in resistance once more, advancing by shortcut, breaking our cauldrons and sinking our boats, vowing not to turn back.

  If you say that a remote place cannot establish a country, then what about Liao, Jin, and Yuan? Think of the Taizu of the Ming dynasty, wasn't he just a monk back in the day? He luckily obtained the world, now what qualifications do they have to not let us establish a country? I will take up arms with a sigh of resentment, fearing that those who don't know will think it's self-strengthening and conquest.

  Alright, everyone knows the reason for sending troops now, let's gather our families and go together to plunder his mother; Later Jin gathered about 30,000 armored men, followed by 30,000 Yu Ding, two million military servants (transporting goods, guarding captured slaves), a total of more than 800,000 people, known as the 1 million army, borrowing the Mongolian Duo Yan Department, starting to sneak attack the Ming country.

  October 2nd set out from Shenyang, took the Liaohe River Delta, headed in the direction of Khorchin, and called together a large group of henchmen to go make a fortune.

  However, when the Later Jin army arrived at the Qingcheng area of Karakhany and camped overnight, the pit dug by Huang Taiji began to take effect. San Beile Manggultai colluded with Da Beile Daisan, opposing further advance and advocating for a return to Shenyang.

  That night, they came to the front of the emperor's tent and ordered that all the Beile ministers were not allowed to enter the tent. Only he and Daishan were alone to meet with the emperor, stating the reasons for stopping the army from advancing: They said that if they went so deep into the enemy's territory, they would be farther and farther away from their rear, and once they could not attack the Ming court, they would run out of food and grass, and both men and horses would be exhausted. At that time, it would be too late to retreat.

  Nurhaci's system of eight kings discussing politics greatly restrained Hong Taiji's ambition, but because it was left by the previous king, he couldn't directly abolish this crappy system. He could only first strike at the prestige of the remaining few people, letting the Jurchen people know that these few individuals were not worthy to be leaders, and only I, Hong Taiji, am wise and martial, so abolishing the eight kings' discussion system would have a chance of success.

  When Manggultai and Daishan fell into the pit, Huang Taiji immediately showed a excited face to all the Beile ministers, indicating that the current situation of the Great Jin was precarious, and it was a helpless decision. Since they had already come, he said, "I won't say more, for the sake of the Great Jin, I'll take the risk, I'll gnaw on the hard bones first." Everyone followed behind him, "I'll go first."

  Actually, when Hong Taiji was the Khan, Manggultai and Dai?an were always dissatisfied. They often secretly hindered Hong Taiji, and this time was no exception. Before departure, they did not object, but when it was about to start fighting, they came to persuade Hong Taiji. If Hong Taiji agreed after such a large-scale mobilization and didn't even get any benefits, he would probably just return with nothing. In that case, the Khan's position wouldn't be secure for many days.

  Unfortunately, Huang Taiji didn't fall for it. A round of impassioned and stirring speeches led everyone to unanimously agree to continue the get-rich action.

  On the twenty-seventh of October, at dawn, during the Little Ice Age, the weather was exceptionally cold, with water freezing into ice. At the Da'an Mouth, about five miles east of Guandong, at Longchi Village, outside the village gate, about forty or fifty meters away, a group of Baojia soldiers belonging to the Zheng Huang Banner were hiding, lying motionless on the icy ground, as if they were in their own home.

  Leading the way was a Nu'erhu Erzhen, named Shu Mu Lu, who was puzzled in his heart: previously, there wasn't even one Ming soldier on duty at several beacon towers, they all hid in their quilts and slept, until death without knowing who did it. But now, the sentry in front of the village is so diligent, standing under the faint light, looking outside, motionless. Is a strong attack really necessary?

  Time passed minute by minute and second by second, but these Prussian soldiers didn't make any complaints or movements like scratching, yawning, etc., just standing there as still as stones.

  The sentry in the stockade is still motionless, it seems that he is a soldier of the same kind as our Pa Ya La, this stockade is not easy to deal with!

  Finally, Shumu Lu looked up at the sky, and with the deadline for Khan's handover approaching, he decided to launch a fierce attack.

  Wave goodbye and lead the way forward, go as far as you can.

  Slowly, getting closer and closer, the sentry still didn't move, apparently hadn't discovered anything. Luckily. With each step as the distance shortened, Shu Mu was getting more and more tense, hoping not to be discovered.

  Finally arrived at the bottom of the village gate, and the sentry above was still quiet.

  Shu Mu Lu took a look and saw that the number of subordinates sneaking to the gate was increasing, and he felt calm in his heart. At this time, even if they were discovered, it would be too late.

  Dong Xia made a gesture and led his fellow partners in climbing over the wall with their help.

  Shu Mu Lu lived up to his reputation as a fierce warrior, being the first to climb over the stockade wall. The moment he got over, he drew his sword and made a swift slash at the sentry.

  No cries of surprise, resistance, or struggle. The sentry fell at the sound.

  Shu Mu Lu fixed his gaze and almost spat out blood. What was the reason? It turned out that the sentry wasn't a person, to be precise, not a living person, but just a scarecrow. In the dim light of dawn, he had thought it was a real person.

  A scarecrow has held up the bravest of the Eight Banners for so long, if this gets out, they'll be laughed to death by others.

  Ba Ya took a deep breath and started looking for surviving Ming soldiers.

  The result was the same as before, all of them were sleeping in their quilts.

  These Ming dynasty soldiers were killed in a very tragic way, almost chopped into minced meat. Later it was said that these people and the Ba Ya La of Da Jin were extremely brave and highly skilled in martial arts, so they had no choice but to beat them to death, resulting in this outcome.

  As expected, the village fell almost without resistance.

  Daan Kou Guanxi Wulishalinqi Village collapsed earlier than Longchi Village because there was no scarecrow on that side.

  The sky was slightly bright, and Jianhu appeared in front of the Daxi Pass, launching a strong attack.

  Although it was a strong attack, there was actually little resistance encountered, and without much effort, the Jianyu occupied Da'an Kou, and General Zhou Zhen was killed.

  On October 27th in the morning, Jianru effortlessly captured Da'an Kou and Longjing Guan.

  Longjingguan is better than Da'an kou, Youji Wang Chunshen escaped under the desperate cover of his family guards.

  Under normal circumstances, this should be the time to take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness and pursue a swift attack to expand the results of the battle. However, the actual situation was just the opposite. After arriving at Han'erzhuang, Huang Taiji ordered a halt to the attack, saying that everyone had run so far and worked hard, and should rest for now.

  Moreover, friends from Mongolia, you can give us a big favor, not only allowing us to pass through your land but also coming together with us to get rich. I, Huang Taiji, will not treat everyone unfairly. These two places will be yours to get rich.

  Other Beile of the Dajin were puzzled and rushed to the main tent of Huang Taiji, asking why they stopped attacking. Were they afraid when things came to a head and didn't dare to fight anymore?

  The emperor said that the mountain people have their own wonderful plan, and everyone should be at ease. Everyone has worked hard, go back and rest first, when it's time to take action, we will notify everyone again, and absolutely won't delay everyone from getting rich. Then he drove them all away.

  As soon as these people left, Huang Taiji immediately returned to the camp and dismissed the idle personnel, leaving only Fan Wen Cheng behind. He asked: "Has the envoy sent by Fan Yongdou to deliver the imperial edict departed?"

  In fact, Huang Taiji knew the entire plan beforehand and also knew that at this time, Fan Yongdou's side should have already taken action. It was just a matter of great importance, and he couldn't help but confirm it again.

  Fan Wen Cheng bowed and replied: "Master, Fan Yong Dou had already sent someone to inform me yesterday. He has arranged for the eunuch to depart and is expected to arrive at Shanhai Pass on October 29th, where he will hide. On October 30th, disguised as a messenger from the Ming capital, he will deliver a fake imperial edict to Yuan Chonghuan."

  Huang Taiji listened, calmed his mind, stopped asking, looked at the map, and then said to Fan Wencheng: "Alright, according to the predetermined plan, we will rest for a few days, but send Bayara to scout around the periphery to gather information about the enemy's situation and terrain. After receiving accurate news, we will set up an ambush at the designated location."

  Fan Wen Cheng suddenly knelt down and said to Huang Taiji: "I congratulate my master, Yuan Chonghuan has been rushing day and night to come and rescue, his main force must be exhausted. With our great Jin Tianbing annihilating them, it will not take any effort at all. Once the Shanhai Pass is destroyed, the mountain and sea pass will belong to my master. From then on, the sea will be wide and the sky will be high, and my master can roam freely. I am delighted for my master."

  Emperor Taizong burst out laughing, and after finishing, he personally helped Fan Wencheng up: "This matter, Xian Dou has made great efforts, I will not forget it. When I formally ascend to the throne, I will appoint you as Grand Scholar to assist me in handling government affairs."

  Fan Wen Cheng was overjoyed and hastily kowtowed again to express his gratitude.

  New book from new author, red envelope, thank you!