Chapter 408: Establishing Prestige on the Grassland
After the Spring Festival, Zhao Xiaokun was brought back to the Ming Dynasty by Zhao Xiaofei. He led the Kenan Army north to join the Mongolian tribes and prepare to attack Khorchin.
The main tribes of the alliance were Alxa, Eleuth, Abak, Bayannur, and Ulanqa. The rest were small tribes with less than 10,000 people. Originally, these Mongolian tribes were completely dismissive of the Ming Dynasty's so-called Northern Expedition.
However, Zhao Xiaofei sent messengers, delivered all the weapons and food, and also gave all the tribal leaders mirrors, women's cosmetics, glassware and other luxury goods. There were also many medicines, including modern medicines for treating trauma, which made the tribal leaders very happy.
The meeting took place near present-day Ordos City. Zhao Xiaokun represented the Ming court and was the leader of the meeting. His camp was naturally located in the center, and the Ming army's tents were all modern green military tents, designed for quick erection and easy transportation.
Several Mongol taijis who attended the meeting took one look at the Ming army camp, which was covered in green tents, and felt disdain. It's so thin, aren't they afraid of freezing to death?
But when we arrived at Zhao Xiaokun's central tent, we discovered that the tents were warm as spring. And every tent was incredibly cozy. In the middle of each tent was a stove, actually a gas stove. Not only did it provide warmth, but it also served as a cooking surface. Some soldiers were grilling sausages.
Five Mongol tribal leaders came in, and one of their personal guards shouted:
Alashan Taiji Samba, Eleuth Taiji Selen, Bayannur Taiji Gunbu, Abak Taiji Saha, and Ulanqab Taiji Abal met with the governor of the Ming Dynasty, Lord Zhao!
The five tribal leaders knelt down and saluted. Zhao Xiaokun, who was sitting on top, said, "No need to be so polite, Taijis. Stand up!"
"Thank you, Admiral!" the five people said in unison.
After the five people stood up, the personal guards brought chairs to them.
Alashan Taiji Sangba spoke first, "Admiral, how should we command our 60,000 to 70,000-man army during this alliance against the Jianlu? Please give us your instructions!"
The others all nodded. Zhao Xiaokun understood that they hoped he would not be in command of their cavalry.
Zhao Xiaokun smiled and said, "This governor doesn't know much about cavalry combat. Even though the 20,000 troops I brought here are on horseback, few of them truly understand cavalry command. Therefore, the command should be handed over to a few taijis!"
When these words came out, several taijis laughed and thought: Fortunately, this Han official knows the importance of things. If he doesn't understand, then he doesn't understand. It's good that he doesn't give blind orders.
"Your Excellency is a frank person, and we feel very close to you! Hahaha!" said Bayannur Taiji Gunbu.
"Sir, I wonder what the main responsibilities of the army brought by the Ming Dynasty this time are? There must be a clear division of labor on the battlefield. We are all leading cavalry, and we are not good at attacking cities." said Seleng, Taiji of the Eleuth tribe.
"For this alliance among the various tribes, we will each play to our respective strengths. My Ming army will take full responsibility for sieges and captures of strongholds, and your main task is to use the advantages of cavalry to prevent the Jianlu from escaping after we defeat their main force. You have lived on the grassland and understand it better than we Han people do." Zhao Xiaokun said with a smile.
"Your Excellency is right. The Ming Dynasty can drive the Jianlu out from the Great Wall, but once we reach the grassland, our world will be ours. Hahahaha!" said Abar, Taiji of the Ulanqab tribe.
Abak tribe Taiji Sahara La La Abal, meaning "Stop laughing, don't you see that the person above has a bad face?"
Abar was reminded and immediately put away his smile. But he was still unconvinced. They believed that the Ming Dynasty's fighting power was still weak. You are lucky that you didn't lose your country after defeating the Jianlu. If we had followed the Jianlu and attacked together, your Ming Dynasty would have been destroyed long ago.
Zhao Xiaokun looked at Abar and said with a smile, "I know. Abar Taiji thinks that the men of your grasslands are talented and real men. He thinks that the Ming Dynasty has been defeated and its strength has declined, right?"
Abal didn't say anything, but his face showed that.
"That was in the past. There were famines and rebellions within the court, and the Jianlu were blocking the borders outside, so that's why it happened. But it's different now. The Ming Dynasty has a strong army and horses. As long as the Jianlu dares to come, I guarantee that he will never come back!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
"My Lord Admiral, there is a saying in your Central Plains that all talk is empty talk. Only when you see the real thing can you know the strength of the Ming Dynasty!" said Abar.
"Great! Are there any tribes nearby that have close relations with the Jianlu?" Zhao Xiaokun asked.
"Yes! There is a tribe called Abaga, with an estimated population of 20,000 people. They are the closest to the Jianlu." Abar, Taiji of the Ulanqab tribe, said at this time.
"Okay, let's start with it! You don't have to worry about it, just surround it and don't join the battle. I will also let you see the strength of my Ming Dynasty's Conquering the Dilemma Army!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
Of course the five taijis agreed, so they each selected 5,000 soldiers and surrounded the enemy.
It was winter now, with ice and snow everywhere, and the roads were not easy to walk on. Furthermore, the weather was very cold, and there was ice and snow everywhere. Abar still wanted to see a joke, to see if the Kenan Army could find an opponent in this icy and snowy situation.
Even though the 20,000-strong Kenan Army didn't have any cavalry command, they had all sorts of high-tech equipment! Compasses and drones made it easy for the Kenan Army to find this place.
Zhao Xiaokun said to Abar while riding on his horse: "Light the incense, and when the incense goes out, the tribe will disappear!" After that, he took out his sword and pointed it at the sky.
Abar looked at Zhao Xiaokun with disdain, but Zhao Xiaokun ignored him.
At this time, the leader of the Abaga tribe came over in a hurry and said he wanted to see Zhao Xiaokun. Zhao Xiaokun just said one sentence: Change the formation, kill!
The soldiers began to form battle formations and headed towards the Abaga tribe.
Seeing that negotiations were futile, the Abaga tribe leader had no choice but to organize his forces to break out of the encirclement. As the saying goes, "If you have the green mountains, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood." Of the thirty-six strategies, running away is the best!
But he didn't have this chance, the Kenan Army's muskets and artillery fired! Even if they rushed to the front, they would be beaten back by grenades.
The warriors of the Abaga tribe fell one after another. They rode on their horses to other tribes and this time they finally saw the strength of the Ming Dynasty.
It really took only a stick of incense, and the not-so-small Abaga tribe was slaughtered!
The five leaders were so shocked that their jaws dropped. Could war still be fought like this? How would we play in the future?
The earth-shaking noise frightened many of the Mongolian horses, causing them to run around in all directions. If they were not all born with good skills, the horses would have been frightened by the noise and would have run around, and the whole team might have been thrown into chaos.
Abar then took the initiative to come to Zhao Xiaokun and said, "Admiral, I, Abar, will become your most loyal servant!"
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