The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Fengtian Temple,

Emperor Hongzhi and Jiu Qing gathered in front of a huge sand table, standing with their hands behind their backs.

"The Tatars are able to mobilize 50,000 troops to Datong. It seems that they are determined to attack the city."

Dayan Khan's troops were no more than 150,000, and their large army was stationed in Hetao to play chess with Yan Kesong.

"Your Majesty, you don't know. After Dayan Khan got three generals from the Red Barbarians, he went north to recover the various tribes. Now the Ordos tribe, the Tumed tribe and the Yongxiebu tribe have completely submitted to Dayan Khan's banner."

Qin Hong analyzed the information in his hand.

Dayan Khan's army was far more than the original 150,000 troops.

As a result, other important towns in Jiubian will not be able to mobilize troops to support Datong.

"With 30,000 troops against 70,000 troops, even if Wang Yue goes forward, he will not be able to compete.

Not to mention, Datong's frontier troops were not good at riding and shooting, and were far inferior to the Tatars and Jurchens in iron weapons. "

Ma Wensheng spoke frankly and did not lie because the Datong border troops were soldiers of the Ming Dynasty.

"If Yan Chengjin had not advised them to attack Jianzhou, the Jurchens would not have united with the Tatars." Qin Hong said.

Liu Jian nodded, but now he could only think of ways to break the situation.

Emperor Hongzhi thought of General Hongyi and asked, "How about strengthening the walls and clearing the country, and using General Hongyi to defend the city?"

"I'm afraid that if it doesn't work, the Tatars will bypass Datong and go south from Zhenhe."

Ma Wensheng drew a line on the sand table.

The nine sides in the north are not connected into a wall, and there are many unwalled wildernesses to go south.

Why do we have to capture the city before we can go south?

This is the art of war. If you bypass the defensive city and go directly south, you will easily be attacked from both sides and make dumplings.

The situation is different when capturing a defended city. The enemy can use the defended city as a stronghold. There are no enemies behind and they can retreat at any time.

But, things are different now.

There are 70,000 Tatars and Jurchens. Even if the defenders are outflanking them from behind, they can break through and ignore them completely.

"Let me think about it." Emperor Hongzhi stroked his beard, unaware that there was someone else next to him.

Zhu Houzhao stared at the military flag representing the Ming Dynasty on the sand table, not caring: "Father, please let Lao Gao go. Lao Gao is greedy for life and afraid of death, and will not let himself die in Datong. If this happens, he will rack his brains. Put down the chaos in Datong."

Emperor Hongzhi was a little angry. When he saw the sand table, he was like a cat seeing a fish, and he started talking nonsense.

But Emperor Hongzhi thought of Yan Chengjin's nine-square grid tactics when he suppressed the Hetao, and asked: "Where is Yan Chengjin? Let him come to Fengtian Palace."

Not long after, Yan Chengjin came to the main hall and saw a huge sand table. Emperor Hongzhi and Jiu Qing were standing beside the sand table.

"Chen Yan Chengjin..."

Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Hongzhi said directly: "The Tatar army of 70,000 captured Datong, with only 30,000 defenders. Does Yan Aiqing have any ideas?"

Thirty thousand versus seventy thousand?

According to Yan Chengjin's temperament, he will directly request His Majesty to deploy the garrison to 140,000.

140,000 versus 70,000 is about the same.

But Yan Chengjin also knew that the Beijing camp could not leave the capital at will, and it would take at least a month for the army to move north.

I'm afraid Datong is over.

"There is a way. You will know the result in three days."

Qin Hong and Ma Wensheng's eyes flashed with surprise.

Only those who have been on the front line know how difficult it will be for an army of 30,000 to defeat 70,000. Even with the advantage of a city wall, the difference is still in the clouds and mud.

Li Dongyang whispered to Yan Chengjin: "Don't agree to anything you're not sure of, otherwise you'll delay the fight."

It had only been two days since the impeachment of Jiao Fang, and the officials were staring at Yan Chengjin.

If he fails this time, I am afraid that many people will impeach him, especially Jiao Fang’s disciples.

Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Do you know that the Datong cavalry is not as good as the Ningyuan frontier army?"

If you want to win more with less, I'm afraid you won't be able to.

"I know that if your Majesty allows us to go north from Song Jing, this battle may still be fought."

Song Jing had never been to the front line. He stayed in the Metropolitan Procuratorate compiling the Ming Dynasty Huidian, and it was probably difficult for him to be promoted.

Yan Chengjin asked him to go north, naturally to achieve military exploits.

"War is not about writing bullets. You can win by just talking. If you lose the battle, hundreds of thousands of people behind you will die under the iron hoof of the Tatars." Qin Hong said.

It is not surprising that the Tatars massacred people in border towns in order to control the population of the Ming Dynasty.

"I recommend Song Jing!" Yan Chengjin insisted.

Zhu Houzhao bowed and said seriously: "My ministers also recommend Song Jing."

Song Jing was his warrior, and Zhu Houzhao's happiest thing was to command his warriors to fight.

Liu Jian could not decide whether the Tatars were attacking the weak Datong this time or not the powerful Sanbian Hetao. It was difficult to tell.

"Order Song Jing to go north, and order the British Duke to stand by. If the Tatars break through Datong and go south, go north to meet them."

Emperor Hongzhi added an extra layer of protection.

…………

Outside the palace, Wang Gong's factory.

Yan Chengjin and Song Jing stood in front of the saltpeter together. Only Wang Gong Factory could prepare a large number of firearms.

"The firearm I want to make this time is very special. It needs to be buried underground."

"Is there such a firearm in the world? It's like a stone bomb."

Zeng Jian looked slightly shocked, but did not doubt Yan Chengjin's words.

Song Jing, on the other hand, looked like he was asking for advice humbly.

There are only three days left, so Yan Chengjin must hurry up: "For the two firearms on this drawing, order the craftsmen to work harder to make them."

Song Jing glanced at the drawings and then looked at the production method.

The materials required for the first firearm were easy to obtain and could be made with slightly modified bowl-mouth cannons.

Only this mine requires the use of alum oil, which is a bit troublesome to refine.

Yan Chengjin said: "This thing is extremely dangerous, so be careful. You have to make it within one day, and order the craftsman to make it."

The methods are all written on the drawings. With Song Jing's current firearms proficiency, it shouldn't be difficult.

This method is recorded in Tiangong Kaiwu.

With mines, the Tatar cavalry has nothing to fear.

Not only could it kill the Tatars, it could also make their proud war horses panic.

In addition, there is another firearm as a big killer!

Laying mines requires professional engineers, which is why Song Jing must go north.

Developing landmines was dangerous, so Yan Chengjin did not dare to stay at Wang Gong Factory and told Song Jing: "As soon as I develop it, I will inform my boss."

…

Forbidden City, Royal Palace.

The Jin Yiwei reported to Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, Mr. Yan went to Wang Gongchang after leaving the palace."

This guy went to Wang Gong's factory to prepare firearms.

"What kind of firearms can fight against an army of 70,000 people?" Emperor Hongzhi wondered.

After a while, Zeng Jian came to Fengtian Hall and begged Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Industry needs thirty thousand taels of silver to purchase gunpowder materials such as saltpeter and sulfur."

"How do I remember that there are thousands of saltpeter in Wang Gong's factory?" Han Wen knew all the treasury in detail.

Zeng Jian said: "The saltpeter and sulfur from Wanggong Factory have to be transported to Datong. As a result, the warehouse of Wanggong Factory is empty. It is not easy to mine saltpeter and sulfur, so it needs to be filled as soon as possible."

Yan Chengjin told him that all the gunpowder in Beizhili would be moved to Datong, so that he could fill it as soon as possible.

"What kind of firearm requires so much gunpowder?"

"I don't know, but Yan Chenggongjin said that it needs to be buried underground, and is called a landmine. Its power can make the earth sad and make the mountains and rivers pale."

Emperor Hongzhi couldn't help but become curious, wondering how powerful he was compared to General Hongyi.

It's ugly time at night.

The capital city was like a thunderbolt, deafening and deafening.

The people in Xicheng fled from their houses in panic.

People living in Wanggongchang knew that gunpowder had exploded again, and they were cursing.

Yan Chengjin slept soundly, but was awakened by the loud noise.

Judging by the sound, it must have been too much saltpeter and sulfur.

He turned over and went back to sleep.

It's late at night, Kunning Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi lay on the imperial collapse, worried about the people in the important town of Datong, his eyes wide open.

He supported the edge of the bed with his palms and turned over slightly, not wanting to disturb the queen beside him.

Suddenly, there was a bang!

Emperor Hongzhi was so frightened that his heart suddenly shrank, and he felt a slight pain. He said angrily: "Why is it so loud?!"

Xiao Jing heard Emperor Hongzhi's call and was about to respond.

But he saw Emperor Hongzhi stepping out of his shoes, with a reproachful look on his face: "The Queen finally fell asleep while carrying my flesh and blood. Who made such a big noise?"

"I don't know, I don't know. The sound seems to be in Xicheng District."

Emperor Hongzhi turned from anger to joy, and his face slowly relaxed. The palace was far away from Xicheng District, so it must be a firearm that could be transmitted here.

"Send someone to Wang Gong Factory to have a look."