On the first day of October, the temperature in Liaodong is already very low, so you need to wear cotton clothes to resist the cold.
On a mountain peak on the north bank of the Yalu River, accompanied by Yanshan Capital Commander Cai Chuansheng and several staff officers, Zhu Jinghong sat on horseback and observed the situation on the other side with a telescope.
Due to the special terrain of the Liaodong border, the attack on North Korea must be along the coastal plain. Other routes are difficult for infantry to traverse and are too far.
North Korea has also anticipated this, so it has stationed a large number of troops in Yongcheon, Uiju and Shuozhou along Ping An Road. It is not easy to attack across the Yalu River.
However, if we wait another month or two, when the Yalu River is completely frozen, it will not be difficult to cross the river.
This is good news for Zhu Jinghong, but unfortunately he has received bad news recently, that is, Japan has deployed troops to reinforce North Korea.
Of course, the Japanese would not go directly to the west bank, but would land nearby on the east coast of Korea and be deployed in the direction of Hamgyong Road to resist the Jurchen tribes that had already pounced.
Compared with the Ming army, the Jurchen tribes were really enthusiastic about punishing North Korea, as Zhu Jinghong expected.
They are all cavalry, and their mobility is particularly good. They can easily find weak points in defense and break into various prefectures and counties in North Korea.
These Jurchen cavalry attacked in groups according to tribes, ranging from thousands to one or two hundred, plundering everywhere and making it impossible for North Korea to defend itself.
"Yes"
So he ordered, "Bring him in"
"They set off the day before yesterday, and they should arrive in five or six days." Zhu Jinghong Said in a deep voice.
"Yes"
"Is there any news from Haizhou Guard?"
The problems that have troubled the Central Plains Dynasty for thousands of years have now all fallen on North Korea, forcing them to Li Xuan and his son had to turn to the Japanese for help.
The situation has developed to this point, and the military confrontation is irreversible, so Zhu Jinghong doesn't want to see the visitor.
This time, nearly 40,000 troops were mobilized from the three capitals. Currently, 30,000 troops are deployed within 50 miles of Jiulian City.
The number of troops they deployed near Yizhou was only 30,000, and the number of young men recruited was no more than 50,000. Although they had superior strength, their weapons were very backward, so the 30,000 Ming army led by Zhu Jinghong personally, It has put great pressure on the North Korean army on the other side.
Hearing this, Yu Hai did not leave immediately, but reminded, "The prince is coming from Mingchuan Jun Li Hui."
He wanted to see the latest intelligence and process it. When various ministries receive temporary information, they must promptly adjust the deployment of troops according to the situation on the other side, and issue the incoming grain, grass and ordnance
Compared with Anzhou, Longchuan, Yizhou and Shuozhou have sufficient garrison troops. It is basically impossible to win it in a short time.
Zhu Jinghong was very familiar with the name Li Hui. After all, this guy often gave him money.
Although it is a feint, it must be done as if it were true. After all, the feint may be successful.
"North Korea Envoy" Zhu Jinghong was surprised.
"Your Majesty, if the river freezes in a few days, our army will be able to cross the river and attack even if the surprise attack fails. Our army is in an invincible position in this battle," Cai Chuansheng said with a relaxed expression.
A river beach not far from Jiulian City is Zhu Jinghong's planned attack location. The terrain here is flat and the river is only more than a hundred meters wide, making it an excellent location to launch an attack.
Of course, Zhu Jinghong did not choose to meet for the money, but because he knew that this guy was a restless person.
Hearing Zhu Jinghong’s question, the staff officer in charge of information and compliance quickly replied, “Reporting to the prince, they arrived at Xin Dien Fort at noon yesterday, and there is no news today.”
“The arrangements will be completed tonight. , launch an attack early tomorrow morning," Zhu Jinghong ordered.
If this kid can be used to achieve the goal of disintegrating the enemy from within, it will be a huge gain for Zhu Jinghong.
"In just over a hundred miles, we have traveled for three days and still haven't arrived yet."
So, Zhu Jinghong still has to place his hope in a surprise attack and Anzhou will be captured in his game. To live.
After a busy morning, when Zhu Jinghong was preparing to have lunch, Yu Hai came to report that the North Korean envoy wanted to see him.
After observing the situation, Zhu Jinghong rode his horse and walked towards the bottom of the mountain. Cai Chuansheng followed closely. Several staff officers stayed two or three feet back, and the accompanying guards were further away.
The converse is also true. North Korea also knows the deployment of the Ming army, so sneak attacks are very difficult.
"Blast out"
Now, North Korea's troops are stationed not far from the coast, and they can basically see the situation on the other side.
Don’t underestimate these 30,000 troops. The total standing army of North Korea is only 70,000 or 80,000. Among them, there are still a large number of people staying in Seoul, and only 50,000 or 60,000 can actually be used.
Otherwise, it would become a war of attrition. He, Zhu Jinghong, would not be able to explain to the emperor, and at the same time he would lose his own prestige. It can be said that he lost his wife and lost his troops.
The supply line has been stretched extremely long due to the laborious expedition here, and it is very unwise to waste money with others.
"I will make arrangements when I get back"
Even if there is a negotiation, it will have to wait until the imperial army has won a victory before a satisfactory result can be reached.
On the way back to Jiulian City, Zhu Jinghong and Cai Chuansheng chatted a lot, mainly about improving tomorrow's attack plan.
The so-called "action" refers to a feint attack, which is also planned.
Cai Chuansheng replied, "I think we can take action here."
However, Zhu Jinghong was not happy. Instead, he asked, "The river is frozen. We can cross the river, but they You can also choose to retreat to the city and wait for us behind closed doors."
"We will wait until the Haizhou Guards arrive to take action together. The time will be tomorrow at dawn."
"Send people there again. Tell Hu Yicheng that if he fails to make it to the scheduled location at sunset today, I will chop his head off.”
What’s more, the temperature will be even lower in the future., which is even more disadvantageous for the Ming army.
Back in Jiulian City, Zhu Jinghong didn’t get any rest.
"Yes"
After a while, Li Hui was brought into the living room. At this time, Zhu Jinghong was leaning on a chair with his legs crossed and reading a book.
Yes, Zhu Jinghong was reading a book, looking very leisurely, which was in sharp contrast to the busy military officials outside.
The purpose of this is to show Li Hui or North Korea that killing them for rebellion is nothing to the Ming Dynasty.
At this moment, Li Hui was indeed shocked, which made his inner thoughts more determined.
Going against the Ming Dynasty is a dead end. I am not betraying my father and brother, but I want to save the Li family's foundation. I have no choice but to resort to this method. Li Hui convinced himself.
"Foreign Minister Li Hui, come to see His Highness"
Zhu Jinghong was still reading, so Li Hui could only continue to kneel and wait for several minutes.
Keeping his posture motionless, Li Hui's knees were in excruciating pain. Just when he couldn't hold on any longer and was about to speak again, Zhu Jinghong's voice rang out in the room.
"According to what they want, they want me to chop down the sacrificial flag."
Zhu Jinghong's light voice really frightened Li Hui, because Zhu Jinghong can really chop it down. Got him.
"Your Highness, my father and brother are unfaithful and unfilial. If they are unkind and unjust, I will be loyal to the court. I hope your Highness will learn from it." In order to save his life, Li Hui made his attitude clear immediately.
Li Hui originally thought that Zhu Jinghong would approve of his attitude, but the latter sneered and asked, "You are loyal to the imperial court and you can even betray your closest relatives. I still believe that you are loyal to the imperial court."
< p>"Come here, capture this thief tomorrow morning"It seemed that the Naihe Bridge flashed before his eyes. Li Hui was so frightened that he lost his composure on the spot. He rolled forward and threw himself forward, saying at the same time "Your Highness, Your Highness also hopes that Your Highness will see clearly that I am really here to surrender."
"My father and brother are doing the opposite and will be destroyed by the imperial court. Although I am my father's son, I am even more Your Majesty's minister."
"How could I only think about my flesh-and-blood relationship and forget my great filial piety and loyalty to His Majesty?"
These words are certainly high-sounding, but when Li Hui put the last word By the time he finished speaking, the two guards who entered the room had taken him down and would take Li Hui away as long as Zhu Jinghong stopped expressing his stance.
After moving his fingers slightly to signal the guards to withdraw, Zhu Jinghong turned a page of the book and asked, "How do you plan to be loyal to His Majesty?"
"Now, even though North Korea is afraid of My father and brother have no choice but to surrender because of their military power. However, all the virtuous men under him are eager for the king’s army to go south to correct the chaos and punish the unruly ministers."
"I came here this time to report to His Highness. I have already contacted more than a dozen people. Virtuous people want to install internal support in Longchuan Yizhou and other places, and when the king's army moves in, they will start an attack together, and the internal support and external cooperation will capture the city."
Hearing this last sentence, Zhu Jinghong finally became interested. So he asked, "How many people can you gather?"
Ping An Dao will sufferMost of the local scholar-bureaucrats felt unhappy due to the war, and some of them were extremely willing to take action to help the court, which is a very reasonable phenomenon.
If the Ping An Road is successfully breached, not only can they avoid military disaster, but they can also use this to show their merit to the Ming Dynasty and help the family's status in North Korea to a higher level.
These things are not their beautiful fantasies, but real cases that happened decades ago when Shizu was trying to bring peace to the world.
Those who welcomed Master Wang to North Korea back then are some of the top families in North Korea today, including the Chen family, who leads the government Chen Taimin.
"A dozen families are willing to start a rebellion. Give them a dozen days and it will not be a problem to gather six to seven hundred people."
The key is not to gather people, but how to do it. Try to get people into the city.
Nowadays, several cities such as Longchuan have been completely implemented under military control. They are all stationed and defended by soldiers. Ordinary young people cannot get close to the city defenses.
"How many people can you gather to Yizhou within ten days?"
Yizhou is on the other side of Jiulian City, and it is also the main attack direction of Zhu Jinghong's army. Longchuan and Shuo The state is headed by Qi Yanze and Sun Maozhi.
"Three hundred people won't be a problem," Li Hui gritted his teeth and said.
"Okay, three hundred people, follow my instructions in ten days, and attack together to capture Yizhou. You will be considered a great achievement then," Zhu Jinghong put down the book and said.
"I am willing to go through fire and water for His Highness, no matter what."
Just now he said that he would be loyal to the emperor. At this moment, Li Hui expressed his loyalty to Zhu Jinghong because he understood that the county magistrate was not as good as him. The principle of current management.
Frankly speaking, if Li Hui wants to sit on the throne, Zhu Jinghong's opinion is crucial, because he knows how good the father-son relationship between the emperor and Zhu Jinghong is.
Only as an outsider can we see this clearly, although Li Hui also found it incredible.
"There is no need for you to go through fire and water, just get things done," Zhu Jinghong said calmly.
"Yes"
Actually, Li Hui wanted to talk about the throne. Considering that it seemed too anxious, he suppressed his words.
"You came this time on your own, or on your father's order"
"Reporting to Your Highness, on my father's order, he wanted me to Come to delay time." Li Hui directly let it slip.
Seeing how happy he was, Zhu Jinghong couldn't help but smile, and then he said, "Your father doesn't even see you through, so you dare to rebel against him. It's really reckless."
"He is unfaithful and unfilial. He and I are incompatible with each other," Li Hui still expressed his determination.
But in Zhu Jinghong's eyes, he only saw Li Hui's desire for power. As for the so-called loyalty and filial piety, he didn't see it at all.
The two secretly spied for a while. In order to complete the trick and make Li Hui more trusted by his father, Zhu Jinghong ordered the guards to whip him more than ten times.
In the end, Li Hui was carried out of Jiulian City.Let the followers who saw him for the first time think that something unexpected had happened to him.
"Send me across the river quickly and go to a doctor for treatment," Li Hui said tremblingly.
The pain in his skin and flesh just now was due to the lack of moisture, so he was really uncomfortable.
When Li Hui was taken away by his entourage, Zhu Jinghong was already standing in front of the sand table in the war room, watching the staff adjust the small flags above.
Beside him was Cai Chuansheng, who was reporting the situation. The preparations before the attack had been distributed to all the participating departments, and they would prepare everything at night.
After Cai Chuansheng finished speaking, Zhu Jinghong told the story about Li Hui, which made the former very happy.
Before sunset, the Haizhou Guard finally arrived at the predetermined position, and its commander Hu Yicheng managed to save his head.
As the sun set, Hu Yichen himself entered Jiulian City to participate in the last military meeting before tomorrow's attack.
In a garden in the north of Jiulian City, more than a dozen commanders, plus a few command officials and colleagues, were already seated according to their rank. Hu Yicheng arrived late and had to sit further back.
"Fortunately, it didn't delay things." Hu Yicheng secretly rejoiced. The temperature was already relatively low at this time, but he was still wiping sweat.
"Why did it take so long?"
The person who asked the question was sitting in front of Hu Yicheng. He was the commander of the Liaodong capital, and he could be regarded as Hu Yicheng's boss. boss.
"Sir, the bridge collapsed on the road and a temporary one was built, so it was delayed," Hu Yicheng explained.
"Now is no different than before. Your Highness King Xiang is very strict in running the army. You must not make any mistakes again, otherwise no one will be able to save you"
"Understand your humble position"
While the two of them were talking, Zhu Jinghong and Cai Chuansheng came out. Everyone present stood up and saluted, while Zhu Jinghong asked everyone to sit down very easily.
Then the proceedings officially began. First, each department reported on their preparations, and then asked them to raise questions. Zhu Jinghong listened to them one by one and responded on the spot.
After all the procedures were completed, Zhu Jinghong finally began to make a concluding speech.
"Everyone, as far as I know, Li Shuo and his son are acting in a perverse way, and the Korean people and scholars are very dissatisfied."
"The scholars and the people all hope that Wang Shi will come to the court to calm the chaos. My back is with Ming Dynasty."
"In this way, I have overestimated North Korea in the past. It seems that counterinsurgency this time may not be difficult."
With this, Zhu Jinghong said with a smile "Maybe if we work hard, we can take our sons and daughters to Seoul for the New Year"
Please remember to bookmark it after this chapter, the latest and fastest website without anti-theft, free to find books and add books, you can join the qq group 952868558