Chapter 751: Wild Geese Fly South, Victory on the Battlefield
The night sky is filled with stars, twinkling like the eyes of a lover.
Tuotuo stood outside the big tent, with his hands behind his back, looking at the starry sky.
"Take off."
Jineng came and asked, "What are you looking at?" He also looked up at the starry sky without any interest.
"The Milky Way looks particularly magnificent tonight." Tuotuo still raised his head, "In the past, I ignored this breathtaking beauty. It turns out that there are beautiful scenery everywhere in life, but we just ignore it."
"Are you preparing to become a monk?" Jinen smiled, "It's just like that after seeing beautiful scenery too many times."
"No, it's just that our hearts have changed." Tuotuo slowly retracted his gaze, looking at Jineng's face that he didn't like with some regret, "You and I once sat outside the king's tent and looked at the same sky full of stars."
"That night, my father died." Jinen said expressionlessly.
"Yes." Tuotuo said, "From now on you will follow the Khan until now."
"What do you want to say?"
"Tomorrow is the second day."
"Any news on Biggie?"
"not at all."
"You have always been calm and steady, you shouldn't be so anxious!"
"But I have a bad feeling."
"Since we came south, I've seen you running around all day. You should rest."
"This is the most important battle in the Khan's life. I am willing to fight all day long, not to mention running around."
"You should speak louder." Jinen pointed to the big tent, "Let the Khan hear your loyalty."
This sarcasm did not make Tuotuo angry. He shook his head and said, "Biji is a calm person. If he is not sure, the messenger must have arrived by now."
"So what you mean is that Biji should have broken through Luanling Pass by now?"
"That's how it should be, but I always feel that Jiang Qingzhi is wrong."
"What's wrong?" Jineng felt that Tuotuo was a little suspicious.
"If Jiang Qingzhi is not sure about holding Luanling Pass, I think he will definitely go all out and seek a decisive battle. He will not wait until the news of the loss of Luanling Pass arrives and the army is in chaos before attacking."
Jinen smiled and said, "But he is not a god who can predict the future, right? In this case, he can only choose to wait for news."
"Jineng, I'm not kidding. There's something wrong with this." Tuotuo said seriously, "Jiang Qingzhi is too calm. This is not like him."
"Isn't he calm? If the minister that the Emperor relies on is not calm, how can he take on the important task? Just like you, my brother." Ji Neng's eyes were full of sarcasm, "Although you are only an adopted son, you are highly valued by the Khan. You hold secret spies and enjoy unlimited glory..."
"Do you remember how Jiang Qing used his troops several times before?" Tuotuo stared at Jineng. "He dared to take risks. Our army was divided into ten groups, but he attacked all of them. What kind of courage is this? How could such a Jiang Qingzhi just sit there and wait for fate to decide his fate?"
"Haha!" Jineng smiled.
"I have carefully considered Jiang Qingzhi's words and deeds. Including his time in the royal court, this man never sticks to so-called common sense or rules. When he feels that he should do something, no matter what lies ahead, he will go forward without hesitation."
"Even if you want to die?"
"Don't forget, Jiang Qingzhi was willing to take risks for the sake of those captives. Do you remember those wolves? The wolves that were crushed to death by the collapsed cliffs?"
"There is no doubt about my memory."
"Then do you still remember the firearms that the Ming army dropped from the top of the city a while ago? There was a loud explosion, as if the sky was collapsing and the earth was splitting. Think about the cliff that collapsed at that time."
Jinneng remembered, "That's gunpowder!"
"Yes." Tuotuo said, "Jiang Qingzhi seemed to be taking risks, but in fact he already had a foolproof plan to deal with everything. The collapse of the cliff, which crushed the wolves, made everyone in the royal court exclaim that he was protected by gods. And the so-called gods were nothing more than firearms."
At that time, Jineng and Tuotuo both prostrated themselves before the ground, thinking that this was a god descending to earth.
Thinking about it now, Jineng still feels ashamed and angry.
"You think a man like this would sit back and watch Luanling Pass being attacked?" Tuotuo shook his head. "I'm sure he has the means."
"You told the Khan, but he didn't accept your suggestion?" Jineng asked.
Tuotuo nodded, and Jineng sighed, "So you want me to go and persuade the Khan again. But why don't you go to find Sengge or Buting?"
Tuotuo remained silent.
Although he was Altan's adopted son, he felt somewhat embarrassed in front of Altan's real son.
"Justice, fairness, justice... You have an extraordinary reputation." Jineng patted Tuotuo's shoulder, "But I'm sorry I can't do this. After all, compared to you, the status of my nephew of the Khan is even more embarrassing."
Tuotuo's brows were filled with sadness. "I'm worried that Biji will be defeated. So we should make preparations early."
"What can we do to prepare? To provide support? Or to send reinforcements... None of them are appropriate. If everything is as you said, then the only thing we can do now is to wait for news."
Jineng entered the big tent.
Inside the big tent, Altan was looking at documents.
Wherever he was, that was the royal court. News from all over continued to pour in.
"Jineng." Altan looked up at his nephew.
"Great Khan." Ji Neng saluted, looking at Bi Ji respectfully in the candlelight, "I heard a piece of news earlier that Jiang Qingzhi might have a way to deal with Bi Ji."
"What means?" I asked.
"Although the elite troops of the Ming army nearby have all gone to Luanling Pass, it is still a Ming territory after all. If they gather the militia as well..."
"Those militiamen are not grassland warriors." Altan smiled. "Tuotuo is unwilling to give up and asks you to help persuade him? Tell him that if the Ming militiamen go to war, they will die."
The people of the grassland grew up on horseback, and archery is a necessary skill for everyone, as well as swordsmanship.
Therefore, Altan looked down upon the young and strong people of the Ming Dynasty.
"The victory report should come tonight or tomorrow morning." Altan put down the document in his hand and rubbed his eyes. "Go back and sleep early. Once the victory report comes, Jiang Qingzhi will either leave the city for a decisive battle, or my army will march south in full force."
"Yes."
Jineng walked out of the tent and shook his head at Tuotuo.
Tuotuo walked side by side with him for a while and asked, "Why are you asking to help me again?"
Jineng said: "If the Khan can seize the world from the Ming people, my nephew can at least have a fiefdom on the grassland, so that we can live in peace!" Tuotuo knew that Altan was suspicious of his nephew, so he sighed: "Don't worry."
Many people did not sleep well that night.
Altan was looking forward to the victory. He was holding Luanling Pass and could move forward and backward freely. But Jiang Qingzhi was in a dilemma.
Jineng was expecting something but also feeling a little disappointed.
Tuotuo tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep. He was thinking about Jiang Qingzhi's past...
But Jiang Qingzhi was drinking tea.
In his hands were several letters that his wife had sent him a while ago.
——The child kicked me a few more times. I wrote them down one by one and will collect the debt when he grows up.
——Someone came from the palace. Concubine Lu Jing sent some herbs, saying they can help with pregnancy, but I don’t dare to take them. This is all because of those palace fights you mentioned…
Jiang Qingzhi smiled.
- Husband, the wild geese seem to have started to fly south. You said that when the wild geese fly south, it will be the decisive battle of this war. We must win!
"Uncle!"
"Who's here?" Jiang Qingzhi looked up.
"It's Prime Minister Yan."
"What is Old Yan doing here?"
Yan Song entered the study with a jar of wine in his hand.
"Drinking is not allowed during wartime," Jiang Qingzhi said seriously.
"Come on! Heaven and earth know, you know, and I know!" Yan Song sat down and ordered without any hesitation: "Bring two large cups. Also, bring some of the delicacies that your uncle brought for me to taste, don't keep them to yourself."
Jiang Qingzhi smiled and put the letter carefully.
Mo Zhan brought over two wine glasses, and Sun Chonglou placed a few oil-paper packages on the desk. Yan Song said impatiently, "I've heard that Xin'an Lane's delicacies are unrivaled in the world, and even Your Majesty can't help but be tempted. Open them!"
The oil paper package was opened, and there were pickled broad beans, beef jerky, pork floss, and dried tofu...
Yan Song tasted the pickled broad beans and dried tofu and praised them: "They are indeed delicious."
"Try the dried meat." Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile.
"No." Yan Song shook his head.
Jiang Qingzhi stopped urging him to drink. He raised his glass and took a sip. "Hey! This is the best wine in the palace."
"I brought it here secretly this time." Yan Song smiled like an old fox, "I wanted to take it out to celebrate after defeating Altan Khan, but tonight I was moved, so I took it out early."
The two of them drank fine wine, ate snacks, and chatted in low voices.
The topic slowly turned to the war. Yan Song swallowed the food in his mouth, washed the taste of his mouth with a sip of wine, and said, "To be honest, I thought this battle would be resolved quickly. I didn't expect it to be dragged on until today. Qingzhi, this is not your temper."
"What kind of person am I?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled.
"You are the type who attacks like fire and defends like a mountain." Yan Song narrowed his eyes at him, holding a pickled broad bean in his hand and sniffing it. "You may be resourceful or powerful. But you are not the type to wait for your opponent to make a move. You are worried too!"
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Yan Song and smiled for a long time, "I never worry."
"Then why don't you move?" Yan Song said, "It's all a decisive battle. You said the battle at Luanling Pass affected morale and you're waiting for news. But I've thought about it carefully. I remembered that your methods of inspiring the morale of your subordinates in the past are like antelope hanging horns, leaving no trace. It shows that you are not without methods."
"Old fox." Jiang Qingzhi pointed at Yan Song and smiled. "This is not an ordinary battle. It is of great importance. Before the decisive battle, I want to use all the means. As long as it can help this battle, even if it is just a little bit, I am willing to do my best."
Yan Song was moved. "Those who mocked you for leading a war that could destroy a country before you were 20 should listen to my words."
Jiang Qingzhi smiled and shook his head, saying, "Why would an eagle quarrel with a sparrow?"
Yan Song sighed, "So, when do you think the decisive battle will take place?" He stared at Jiang Qingzhi and said, "Tell me the truth."
"Probably... in the next two days."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because the outcome of the battle at Luanling Pass will be known today or tomorrow."
"Who wins? I want the truth."
"Ming dynasty!"
"Why?"
"Again, no one knows how much preparation Your Majesty and I have made for this battle..."
"Uncle!"
"What's the matter?"
The person who came in from outside was Xu Wei.
His face was slightly red, and he looked excited. "Ye Buhui returned and found a group of troops coming from the south, heading towards Altan's camp."
Jiang Qingzhi raised his glass, "How are those troops?"
“It’s a mess.”
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Yan Song, "The Prime Minister asked me when the decisive battle will take place, so the answer is here."
Yan Song stood up suddenly, "You mean..."
"The enemy's small force will inevitably be defeated!" Jiang Qingzhi raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
At this moment, Altan had just been awakened.
He put on his clothes, stood up, and looked at the general who came in with sharp eyes.
"But Biggie's victory?"
The general knelt down.
"Great Khan, our army...is defeated!"
(End of this chapter)
