Ming Taizi's Total War

Chapter 288 Decisive Battle at Yumen Pass

Yumen Pass, this is a city far in the northwest, surrounded by yellow sand and deserted.

This is the limit of the Central Plains imperial court's control of the area to the northwest for hundreds of years. If it is farther away, no matter how much manpower and material resources are spent, the imperial court can only barely maintain the rule of Jimi.

For example, the Protectorate of the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty and the Anxi Jiedushi in the prosperous Tang Dynasty were all like this.

And one day in the autumn and winter of Chongzhen's 17th year, Li Jin, Dang Shousu and others led more than [-] defeated soldiers to come here.

Along the way, Zhang Yong pursued them at all costs. He also used a large amount of gold, silver and jewels to buy many Mongolian horses and the most famous horse archers on the grassland from Heshuot, Oirat, Junggar and other large Mongolian tribes.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di chased death and chased the north more than 200 years ago, and fled the Yuan Dynasty in embarrassment, after a long time, Ming and Mongolia gradually let go of their hatred and lived together in friendship.

Of course, this is not the norm. Setting fire to the Mongols’ pastures is not uncommon for frontier troops, and the number of times the Ming army fought against the Mongols on the grasslands is too numerous to count.

But the relationship between Daming and Mongolia is by no means only war and hatred. In many cases, as long as Daming is willing, the Mongols are still willing to make peace with Daming and live together peacefully.

After all, the Mongolian grassland is not a good place. The temperature is lower than that of Liaodong. It is not easy to freeze to death in winter. Even if you wear a leather jacket or a coat, you will die if you stand in the wind and snow for a little longer.

Moreover, there was a lack of supplies on the grassland. Except for grass, cattle, sheep and horses, there was nothing, not even a lot of wood, and tea, salt, iron and other daily necessities could not be obtained without trading with Daming.

It was also with the help of the Mongolian cavalry that Zhang Yong was able to defeat Li Jin and Dang Shousu's invading army so easily. Otherwise, once they defeated the enemy army, they would be able to retreat dozens of miles and build another line of defense. When is the call.

With the help of the Mongolian cavalry, it is different. They can help the Ming army chase the Chuang army, and they can also serve as scouts for the army to prevent the Chuang army from sneaking attacks.

You can even use your high mobility to harass this Chuangjun non-stop on the road. Who makes their equipment mostly cold weapons such as bows, crossbows, and swords?

As long as there are a few cannons, these Mongolian cavalry dare not be so arrogant.

You must know that the power and range of the worst artillery are far beyond the arrows thrown by riding bows. Although the Mongols are tough, they are not iron-headed children. Their ancestors have been educated by firearms for hundreds of years, and they have long been afraid of firearms.

In this way, when Zhang Yong defeated Li Jin and Dang Shousu head-on once, the Mongolian cavalry would rush up to hack and kill, and kept shooting arrows to help Zhang Yong expand his results.

It even caused the Chuang army to turn a temporary retreat from a defeat into a rout of hundreds of miles. Along the way, the Chuang army abandoned their armor, and countless people fell sick, fell behind, and were killed.

It is precisely because of this that after Li Jin and Dang Shousu retreated to Yumen Pass, there were only more than [-] defeated soldiers left.

Moreover, most of the weapons and supplies were either damaged or lost. It can be said that the situation has become extremely bad.

On the tower of Yumenguan, Li Jin stood on the tower and looked into the distance. He saw the Mongolian cavalry galloping wantonly in the vast wilderness. He was so angry that he punched the stone bricks of the city wall with a punch, making a dull sound.

"These Mongolian Tatars actually helped the tyranny. Over the past hundreds of years, the Ming army burned their pastures countless times, tricked them in the horse market countless times, and killed countless warriors and civilians."

"Now they are still fighting for the Ming army, bah, it's really disgusting." Li Jin looked at the Mongolian cavalry on horseback scouting and wandering in the field and scolded angrily.

At this time, Dang Shousu suddenly came to comfort him and said, "They are all muddle-headed herdsmen, how do they know so much?"

"Besides, it's not up to them to decide whether to fight or not. They don't listen to the people in the tribe."

Because Shaanxi is close to the Mongolian grassland, Dang Shousu, who was born and lived in Shaanxi for a long time, has a better understanding of the situation of the Mongolians.

The Mongols on the grasslands, no matter they are warriors or ordinary herdsmen, all live under the rule of tribal leaders, and the tribal leaders everywhere often have to obey orders from Oirat, Chahar, Junggar, and Heshuote. big tribe.

They are similar to the European grand dukes in the Middle Ages. The people under the rulers collect taxes from them and protect them.

And these Mongolian tribes have complex relationships such as love and hatred among each other.

Although the Mongolian Khan still existed a few years ago, it does not mean that the tribes such as Heshuot and Oirat will obey Lindan Khan who only controls Chahar.

"I know, I'm just angry. If it weren't for these Tartar cavalry, why would we have been chased away by the Ming army?"

What Li Jin did not say was that even without these Mongolian cavalry, their ending was destined to be the same, but the process would be much more bumpy and the ending would not be that tragic.

Because the Ming army under Zhang Yong were not new recruits who were pulled out to suppress bandits as soon as they were trained, but experienced veterans who had gone through dozens of battles.

They also have the desire to make contributions, and there is no shortage of supplies.

The peasant army like Li Jin and Dang Shousu would be a ghost if they could beat them.

As Li Jin and Dang Shousu were talking, a thin black line suddenly appeared on the horizon in the distance, as if a stream of black sea water spread here.

"The Ming army is coming." As soon as he saw the thin black line, Li Jin knew that the Ming army was coming.

"What should come always comes back, let the brothers prepare for the battle, we have no room to retreat." Dang Shousu said very decisively.

From the vicinity of Gansu and Qinghai to Yumen Pass, the road is already very desolate. If you leave Yumen Pass and reach the Western Regions, there will be no human habitation for hundreds of miles.

If they got there, then their more than 1 Ming troops would definitely die even worse, and they didn't even need the Ming troops to attack.

Unfamiliar terrain, severe weather conditions, and poor supply conditions are enough to completely ruin their 1-strong army.

Rather than scurrying around like a mouse and trying to survive, it is better to fight to the death. After all, the outcome is still unknown. Li Jin and Dang Shousu both thought so.

After a few quarters of an hour, all the peasant troops who were able to move and still have a little fighting power in Yumenguan City were mobilized.

Those who have weapons should take the time to sharpen them. Those without weapons should look for bricks, stones, and wooden sticks nearby. When the Ming army comes to attack the city, they will use these things to smash them down.

If the smashing was done accurately and with great force, it would be impossible to kill a Ming army.

Of course, this is before the Ming army cuts off your arm.

(End of this chapter)