"It's difficult!" Chongzhen said, shaking his head.
"The main reason why the Jiannu were able to escape unscathed after entering the pass many times was that they were good at observing the terrain. The Central Plains was in full view, and their cavalry could not be stopped."
Huang Degong put down the wine jar and fell silent.
If the Jiannu's fighting power had been a little weaker, they would not have been able to drive the Ming army back to the interior.
After a while, Chongzhen asked: "If I told you in advance where the Jiannu would enter the pass, what are your chances of winning?"
Huang Degong was stunned for a moment. He first looked at Chongzhen in confusion, and then thought about this question seriously.
From the second year of Chongzhen to the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu invaded the pass five times, plundering the people, money, food, and countless livestock.
The tactics used for each entry were different. The first time they entered the city, they carried a large number of siege equipment and mainly used force to attack.
The second time I entered the country was completely the opposite.
Huang Taiji divided his troops into four groups, with Datong and Xuanhua as the main attack directions, breaking through the passes one by one. They brought little baggage, did not attack cities, and only looted villages and forts.
The remaining entries had very different tactics.
After thinking for a long time, Huang Degong spoke: "If Your Majesty can really predict the location where the Jiannu will enter the pass, then I have at least a 60% chance of winning."
"Only a 60% chance of winning?"
Huang Degong sighed helplessly: "The plains are dominated by cavalry. I only have 2,000 cavalry. If Jiannu sends out 100,000 troops like they did in the 15th year of my dynasty, I basically have no chance of winning."
"No, the main force of the Jiannu will besiege Xuanfu Town! Even if there are Jiannu near the capital, they will only plunder and will not attack the city by force."
Huang Degong couldn't help but ask, "Why is your majesty so sure?"
"No hurry, let's eat first, and then we can discuss it in detail after dinner!"
Huang Degong couldn't eat anymore. He pushed the cup and plate forward and stood up: "Your Majesty, I am full."
Chongzhen nodded and ordered Wang Chengen to bring the map of Northern Zhili.
He pointed to Xuanfu Town and asked, "What is the purpose of the Jiannu entering the pass?"
"Well... they robbed the people of their money and food, and took the opportunity to eliminate our elite troops."
"Yes!" Chongzhen pointed to the location of Xuanfu Town on the map and said, "I asked Yan Yingyuan to store 600,000 dan of grain there, enough for 400,000 people to eat for five months. There are also several million taels of silver and countless cattle, sheep, and camels. If you were a Jiannu, would you not be tempted?"
"If I were a slave, I would never let go of this opportunity!"
Huang Degong opened his mouth in surprise, his face filled with shock: "Your Majesty, is this... an open conspiracy?"
"Yes, the only way to deal with smart people is to use overt tactics."
Huang Degong then asked worriedly: "If Xuanfu Town is lost, those supplies..."
"I believe Yan Yingyuan can defend Xuanfu. If Xuanfu is really lost, I will accept my fate!"
Huang Degong looked at Chongzhen quietly and admired his courage.
"But..." Huang Degong turned his gaze and looked towards the capital, "But... How did Your Majesty predict the location of the Jiannu's entry?"
Chongzhen smiled slightly, put his hands behind his back and said: "In the second year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu entered the country from Xifengkou in Jizhou Town; in the seventh year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu entered the country from Dushikou in Xuanfu (Dushikou Town in Chicheng County, Zhangjiakou); in the ninth year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu entered the country again from Dushikou in Xuanfu."
"In the 11th year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu troops were divided into two groups, entering the pass from Qiangziling to the east of Miyun (Guan Shang Village, Dachengzi Town, Miyun) and Qingshan Pass to the east of Xifengkou (Qingshan Pass, Shangying Township, Qianxi, Tangshan) respectively."
"In the 15th year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu destroyed the Great Wall and entered the country from Jielingkou (Jielingkou Village, Funing District, Qinhuangdao)."
"That is to say, by the 15th year of Chongzhen, the Jiannu had only found five locations suitable for breaking through the Great Wall and entering the pass."
Huang Degong nodded in approval.
Chongzhen continued, "Let's not talk about Xuanfu for now. There are four places around the capital where we can enter the pass."
"The farthest of Xifengkou, Qingshanguan and Jielingkou is less than 300 miles away from Shanhaiguan, and the closest is only over 100 miles away. If I were a Jiannu, I would never take the initiative to cause trouble for Wu Sangui."
"So I predict that the Jiannu will enter the pass at Qiangziling, east of Miyun!"
Chongzhen didn't want to explain, but military generals are also human beings.
They had their own ideas and tactics, and in their eyes, the emperor was not a professional military talent.
If the emperor gave orders without reason, the generals would feel disgusted and lose their temper.
Only by convincing the generals can we get rid of the accusation of giving wrong orders and make them remain loyal.
Huang Degong stared at the map intently, with countless tactics popping up in his mind.
While he was thinking about tactics, Chongzhen spoke again: "Jingnan Bo, the east of Miyun is mostly mountainous, with few plains. Are you sure you can stop the Jiannu here?"
"Yes!" Huang Degong said without hesitation, "I will definitely keep the Jiannu outside the Great Wall."
"no!"
Huang Degong was confused: "Why...why?"
"It is their established strategy to let the Jiannu enter the pass. If they cannot enter through Qiangziling, they will choose other places to enter. The Qiangziling area is mountainous. My intention is to let them break through the Great Wall and enter the pass, but to block them in the mountains so that they cannot use the advantages of cavalry."
"The real battlefield is not here, but in Xuanfu!"
"As long as you can contain these enemies, I will remember your great achievement!"
Huang Degong suddenly realized: "I understand... But if the Jiannu did not choose Qiangziling, but chose one of the other three passes, what should I do?"
"Don't worry, I have already made arrangements in advance, Jingnan Bo does not need to worry too much."
"Yes." Huang Degong said no more.
"In that case, then go to the Ministry of War to get the armor. Then lead the troops to Miyun quietly. The Jinyiwei is arresting spies in Miyun City. A surprise attack will win. I don't want the news to be leaked before the Jiannu enter the pass."
"I obey your order!"
Huang Degong was about to bow and leave when he heard Chongzhen say leisurely, "Leave Beijing tomorrow. Take your generals on a day trip around the city today. All expenses will be charged to me."
"You are the heroes of my country and the Ming Dynasty, and you deserve to enjoy the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty."
"I am afraid, I dare not!" Huang Degong was a little embarrassed.
The entertainment mentioned by Chongzhen sounds very serious, but the soldiers’ entertainment methods are extremely simple: eating meat, drinking, and listening to music in brothels.
Speaking of brothels, there were two most famous places in the Ming Dynasty, one was Suzhou and Hangzhou, and the other was the capital.
Most of the women here are family members of convicted officials. They are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and have a more ladylike air than the singing girls in other places.
Chongzhen had never been to such a place. He was about to ask Wang Chengen, but suddenly felt that this question would hurt his self-esteem, so he looked at Huang Degong and said, "Five thousand taels of silver should be enough. I will go to the inner treasury with Wang Chengen to collect the money later."
"Your Majesty, I bow to thank you!" Huang Degong has gone from being touched to being full of energy.
After everyone left, Chongzhen stared at the map of Northern Zhili in the Ming Dynasty with gradually cold eyes.
Few plan things, but many accomplish them.
From the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to the ordinary soldiers, everyone was ready for the decisive battle.
Everything is ready, just waiting for the Jiannu to enter the pass!
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