Volume 1 Nightfall Border City Chapter 49 Road Cut Off

  The Mongolian cavalry drove the refugees back into the mountains, and the city of Hequ returned to its usual tranquility, but Wang Jiayun in the city knew that such days would not last long.

  After the refugees entered the mountain, they didn't dare to shout loudly anymore. When fate cannot be reversed, people can only accept it calmly. If they provoke the Mongolians into anger, being hacked to death would also be a futile death.

  Xiao Zhiyan led more than 400 people, sandwiched between the Mongolian cavalry and the horse thieves. The eyes of the border army were full of vigilance. Yulin Wei is adjacent to the Hetao Grassland, and the border army has been fighting against the Mongolian cavalry on the border for many years. For them, the grassland is in front of their eyes every day, but it is extremely strange.

  Sweat account scolds candidate cavalry first out of the mountain to check, no movement of Chahar cavalry was found nearby. The two troops left the mountain and parted ways at the Yellow River, Zhai Zhe took away 500 refugees and Xiao Zhongyan's party, while more than 3,000 other refugees were escorted by Ge Ri Le Tu to the west to become slaves of the Tumote tribe.

  "This is our big family!" Xiao Zhiyan solemnly introduced the two brothers to Di Zhe.

  "Under the Lei Rock, humbly!" The tall man in front bowed his hands and paid respects. He had a robust build, rough skin on his face, several deep wrinkles on his forehead, looking even older than Xiao Zhiyan. His lower jaw was covered with dense whiskers, and his eyes gazing at Di Zhe were like those of a wild beast hiding in the dark forest.

  "Wait a minute!" A tall figure emerged from behind him, speaking at a moderate pace, with calm and composed gestures.

  "These two are my brothers!" Xiao Zhishen spread his hands and pointed to the gathered tribesmen, saying: "There are nearly three hundred people from the Youlin Wei Bianjun, and some of them are our relatives. When we left the city, Gao Yingxiang took away all the armor and weapons of the border army."

  Di Zhe carefully sized up the two men and nodded, saying: "All Han people who have entered the grasslands are brothers. This is not a place for talking, let's discuss it when we return to the village!"

  Nearly two thousand people wandered along the Yellow River on the east bank of the Hexi Corridor, drifting away from their stronghold for over a dozen days, without drawing swords or shedding blood. Some bandits felt fortunate, while others were disappointed.

  On the banks of the Yellow River, a dozen or so small boats that had been hidden in the bushes were intact, and the troops began to cross the river. Those who were slightly familiar with water could hug their war horses and slowly cross the river with them, but few people from Shaanxi were familiar with water, and most people became dizzy when they saw the rushing water in the river, still hoping that small boats would come back and forth to transport them.

  Di Zhe went ahead and crossed the river back to the camp, leaving Che Feng behind.

  These past ten-odd days have been peaceful and uneventful in both Linjiang and Hanzhong.

  The Han village suddenly increased so many people, Di Zhe urged Ping Kui to purchase another batch of grain into the pass as soon as possible. The Tumote people can only provide a limited number of war horses this year, and the Yulin Wei Bianjun also needs to be equipped with horsemen and weapons.

  Di Zhe led Xiao Zhiyan, Lei Yanqian and Zuo Ruosan to patrol the Han Mansion and introduced: "The affairs of the Han Mansion are managed by the Ministry of Affairs!"

  Lei Yanqian didn't say a word, and Zuo Rou lightly nodded.

  Four people stood in front of the cliff of Tuomao River, the river water was rapid and turbulent. Di Zhe spoke slowly, word by word: "All new entrants to the village must be rearranged according to the rules of the Han Village, the orders of the Main Affairs Office must be carried out!"

  This is a rule he has just established, and absolutely cannot tolerate anyone's disobedience, otherwise his dignity will be lost.

  "The Yulin Army has already been formed!" Lei Yanqian smiled humbly, his voice like a muffled thunder.

  "Betray the imperial court, and the Yulin army will cease to exist!" Zhai Zhe smiled lightly. "The grasslands are not a happy place, if you want to survive, you must fight for your life. I think we should let Lei brother lead half of the men to Lao Ya Mountain, to jointly defend against Lin Ger." His voice was gentle, but his words did not allow for any refutation.

  Lei Yanqian hadn't spoken yet when Xiao Zhishan chimed in, "In that case, it's for the best! That way I won't be lonely and bored on my own over there."

  Di Zhe was indeed thinking of dispersing the Youlin Bianjun, these people were strong in combat, gathering together would easily create a situation where the guest was stronger than the host in the mountain stronghold, and they were also very familiar with Xiao Zhisheng.

  Three days later, Lei Yanqian led more than a hundred soldiers back to Lao Ya Mountain with Xiao Zhiyan's men. Di Zhe dispersed the remaining soldiers and put Zuo Rong in charge of the main affairs office with Wang Yi.

  It's been nearly May, and the climate on the grasslands has become increasingly abnormal. The rainy season that usually comes in March or April this year only brought overcast skies without much rain. Ning Sheng also mentioned in his letter that Shanxi Province is experiencing a drought this year, which might be a disastrous year.

  After receiving the news, Di Zhe hastily found Wulan Gong to send war horses into the Kill Hu Kou, and purchased 3,000 stones of grain at a high price out of the pass. At the same time, he also equipped the border army with weapons.

  Goods had just left the pass, and in almost the same breath, in mid-May, Lin Danhan led Chahar cavalry to invade Datong Prefecture, demanding the usual spring market reward, and the border fortresses were immediately closed.

  The messenger hastened towards the capital city.

  In the Forbidden City, Zhou Yanru, who had just taken office as the first assistant of the Ming Dynasty, rushed to report to the emperor.

  "Proclamation of Grand Governor Zhang Zongheng: Urgent message, Chahar Lin Dan Khan's troops invaded Datong Town a few days ago, requesting this year's market reward!"

  On the dragon throne, the young Chongzhen Emperor let out a cold laugh from his throat, and people who knew him well understood that it was an expression of extreme displeasure.

  "What reward? Last year both rewards were given to him, when the Jurchen people invaded, where was the Chahar cavalry? Where?! You deceive our great Ming too much!"

  Zhou Yanru picked up the conversation and said, "The Chahar Mongols have always been cunning and barbaric, only knowing how to deceive the Great Ming. Some of the wealth given to them has even ended up in the hands of the Eastern Barbarians through various means. Rewarding them is truly not feasible!"

  The only one who was enthusiastic about allying with Mongolia among the civil and military officials of the Manchu dynasty was Yuan Chonghuan, the former governor of Liaodong, who is now imprisoned in a large prison, and reality has proven his failure. At this time, the wisest choice is to step on the body of the loser, so as not to offend the emperor's heart disease.

  "Spare the city and let Zhang Zongchang drive out the Chahar people!"

  The emperor's golden words and jade speech, the imperial envoy carries the sacred decree and rushes straight to Xuan Da Town.

  Xuan Da town's elite troops were all killed in the capital last year, and Governor Zhang Zongheng was certainly not capable of driving out the Chahar cavalry, but the Chahar cavalry was also helpless against the high city walls of Datong.

  Outside Datong City, in the Chahar Great Camp, Lin Danhan received the news brought by the messenger and was furious, shouting loudly.

  "The Great Ming will not grant it, I'll let the Khalkha people take it by themselves!"

  Amur, who was standing by, sent the messenger out of the camp and returned to see Lin Danhan's anger slightly dissipated. He knelt down and persuaded him, saying: "The Jurchen people have used all their tricks in the eastern Mongolian tribes. Now if we want to fight against the Great Ming again, the Chahar people may not be able to keep up."

  "I did not struggle to defeat the Tumet people just to get this desolate and barren Mangnai grassland!"

  The Tumet people were wealthy on the southern grasslands, and all Mongolian tribes envied them. Each tribe had wanted to take a share, but only the Tumet people learned business from the Hans, while Chahar occupied this place, and Guihua City was desolate like a wilderness.

  Amur looked up and said, "Don't worry, Khan, just give it a year. The merchants of Datong will surely dare to venture out of the pass. Once the Chahar people and the Han people are familiar with each other, even without the Ming dynasty's market rewards, we can still get rich!"

  "But if it's a war with the Great Ming, I'm afraid..." Amur didn't finish what he was saying.

  Lin Dan's anger was only temporary, he wouldn't be foolish enough to go to war with the Jurchen and Ming at the same time. The Jurchens were currently invading the Mongolian tribes in the east, they were the true enemies of the Chahar tribe.

  Three days later, Chahar's army retreated back to the grasslands, and everyone in Xuan Da Town let out a sigh of relief.

  The grasslands, from the eastern coast to the western highlands, only one king can exist here.

  Starting from Genghis Khan, all these kings were the great khans of Mongolia, from Dayan Khan to Altan Khan. Until today, the descendants of the Golden Family, Ligdan Khan, also set foot on the path of their ancestors. But unlike before, his arch-enemy is no longer the Mongols.

  In Shengjing City, the line of sight of Huang Taiji has never left Chahar tribe. Now only Mongolians can bring threats to Jurchen. If you want to conquer Mongolia, you must first conquer Chahar tribe.