Chapter 757 A Knife Behind

A few days later, Song Nan and his entourage arrived in Ningxia Town. After crossing the West Cliff Ferry, Song Nan put aside all the distractions and focused on the war in front of him. Although he patted his chest and made a ticket to sweep the Ta's and take back the river, there are too many variables in the war. If the battle is lost, the consequences will be unimaginable. Among other things, his insistence on fighting this battle is a big joke. If others don't impeach him, he will resign and go home to farm.

It was the afternoon of September 19 when I arrived at the pass of the North Great Wall of Yanchi. I heard that the general had arrived, and Jiang Bin, Xu Tai, Ma Ming, Zhang An and other generals who stayed here came to welcome me one after another. When they saw Song Nan, they first congratulated me. The news that Song Nanrong was promoted to the Duke of Zhen had already spread here. Song Nan also officially read the imperial edict about the promotion of generals and knights. Almost everyone participated in the war had a share, and the generals were immediately jubilant and the atmosphere was extremely warm.

Jiang Bin was busy at the banquet to pick up Song Nan, and at the same time congratulated everyone on receiving awards from the court. Song Nan suddenly frowned and asked, "Why did the army retreat to the Great Wall? Didn't I ask you to stay in place when I was leaving?

Jiang Bin hurriedly said, "The thing is that we were stationed on the sand outside the pass according to your order. It is reported that the main soldiers and horses of the Tartans also fled to the north of the Yellow River. In the past few days, the weather has turned cold and the north wind is very strong, and the sand is full of wind. The soldiers in the army complained a little, so Xu Taizhang and I An and others discussed leaving a small number of soldiers and horses to stay outside the entrance for surveillance, and most of the soldiers and horses were temporarily evacuated to the Great Wall to rest.

Song Nan's heart was tight, and he didn't count the weather. Now it's the end of September, and it will be the cold weather of ice and snow in a month. How can the soldiers wear summer clothes when they arrive here? How can they fight in the extremely cold northern land? I was so confused that I forgot about this matter. I didn't tell Yang Yiqing to buy army winter clothes and charcoal for heating in the army in the capital.

"Sent someone back to the capital immediately and tell Lord Yang Yiqing to purchase winter quilts, charcoal and other materials. If it hadn't been for your proposal, it would have been almost a big mistake. If you were not prepared, why should you fight?" Song Nan immediately issued an order to make up for the lost sheep. Wan Zhi ordered several guards to immediately get on the horse and turn back, welcome Yang Yiqing, who later escorted heavy grain and other things, and asked him to handle the matter immediately.

"Duke Zhen, there is one more thing I want to ask you." Jiang Bindao.

Seeing that Jiang Bin looked a little wrong, Song Nan was surprised and said, "What's the matter?"

Jiang Bin said, "How did you communicate with the court in Beijing? Is this re-set operation just an expedition by Zhenwei Camp and the Shenshu Camp and the Fourth Army of the Foreign Army? The Northwest Guards are not fighting together anymore?

Song Nan frowned and said, "Who said, how can these four armies be less than 30,000 soldiers and horses? In addition, the guards have only more than 60,000 troops, which can ensure the balance of troops against the Tarat. Although the main force of the Taar has been lost, don't forget that the land of the river is now occupied by the Taran, which is equivalent to us entering the territory they occupy. At the critical time, they may not drive civilians to all the whole people; and don't forget that there are still 30,000 Taart soldiers and horses stationed in the Wanhu Mansion in the front flag of Chahar in the east, although it is against the Datong border town. But if my army enters the river, it is hard to guarantee that they will not divide their troops to fight with me to the west. Don't take it lightly.

Jiang Bin nodded and said, "That's it. I said how could the general disperse the soldiers and horses at the time of the war? Sure enough, there are tricks inside."

Song Nan said, "What's going on?"

Jiang Bin said, "Five days ago, an order came from the military headquarters to immediately return all the soldiers and horses of the northwest guard station in the army. It is said that the guards have been fighting with the army for a long time, and the cities in various places are empty. In order to prevent the satars from coming back from their weak places, they are required to withdraw all the soldiers and horses."

Song Nan said in horror, "Is there such a thing?"

Jiang Bin said, "The head of the personnel department of the order holds the text of the military department and has the big seal of the military department. That is absolutely not fake."

Song Nan was shocked: "How many soldiers and horses have been withdrawn?"

Jiang Bin did not answer and looked at Zhang An beside him. Zhang An touched his chin and arched his hand and said, "General, if the soldiers and horses of the guard are withdrawn, can Zhang An still stand here?"

Song Nan was surprised and said, "Yes, I'm also very puzzled."

Zhang An said: "When the general left, he once said that he would carry out the battle to recover the Hetao. Before the war, the Ministry of War required the guards to return to their original places, which was a strange decision in itself. If this is the general's order, we can naturally understand that the general is confident, but this is an order issued by the Ministry of War, which It has to be strange."

Song Nan nodded slightly, and his heart was as clear as a mirror. Obviously, this was Lu Wan pulling his hind legs, which was simply to the point of madness. In order not to complete this re-set battle, he did not hesitate to give such an order regardless of the overall situation. This act was simply killing.

"After discussing together, the generals of the guard found something strange. The general was originally the commander-in-chief of the northwest armies. Even if the military department was to be transferred from the soldiers and horses, the prince. At least it should be mentioned in the article or with the signature of the general. According to the experience of many years in the officialdom, I'm afraid that the transfer order of the Ministry of War has not been connected with the general at all. Now it seems that this is the situation. The general knows nothing about this matter.

Song Nanqiang endured his anger and nodded slowly and said, "I really don't know that the army has given such an order. Someone is going to do tricks behind his back. It's interesting."

Zhang An sighed and said, "When the general mentioned this double battle, I didn't have to guess that there must be a sudden voice of opposition in the court. In the eighth year of Hongzhi, the former emperor once consulted on the issue of Hetao. At that time, the Wenwu of the Manchu Dynasty quarreled so much that he could not wait to fight in court. In the end, the former emperor had to decide to put the matter aside. At that time, I happened to return to Beijing to report on my work. I was lucky to witness this matter with my own eyes, which had a profound impact on the reconsideration. I am a martial artist. I don't understand the advantages and disadvantages. I feel that what both sides say seems to be reasonable, and I can't distinguish between right and wrong. But I know that since I have decided to fight, I have to go all out. It's really disgusting to pull my legs behind my back to make me trip. What's more, if others advocate double-set combat, it's okay. Now the Duke of Zhen advocates fighting. I, Zhang An, have never admired anyone in my life, but the five bodies of the Duke of Zhen, but how I will follow you to the death. However, the commanders and generals of our guard have discussed and decided to refuse to carry out the order of the Ministry of War and follow the Duke of Zhen to recover the river. Even if they are accused of this afterwards, we will never regret it.

"Mr. Zhang is right. That's what I think. Anyway, we have to follow the Duke of Zhen to take down the river, and we will talk about it later." The generals of the Institute shouted one after another.

Song Nan sighed and arched his hand with a smile and said, "Song Nan is here to thank you for your trust. You have made the right choice. To tell you the truth, this re-set battle has been opposed by cabinet scholars and foreign court adults. I tried my best to persuade, but it did not work. Finally, on the condition that I did not use one or two taels of silver from the court to fight with my own military expenses, I asked the emperor to agree to my request. All the expenses of this war army were collected by me in the capital. Even so, there were still people playing tricks behind my back, which was really chilling.

The generals were stunned. They had not fully understood everything about the situation in the capital. They only knew that there were great differences in the court about this battle, but they didn't know that it was such a result. Song Nan, the Duke of Zhen, actually paid for the expenses of this battle this time. The court didn't pull it out, which sounded a little ridiculous, but this is a fact. .

"Absurdity, absurdity. We are fighting for the court. How can there be no reason for the court to raise military expenses without money? These people in the foreign court are simply unreasonable. What's wrong with the court? Hey!" Xu Tai sighed several times and shook his head like a rattle.

The generals don't like it. They fight desperately in front of them, and the rear is in a mess. How can they be in a good mood?

Song Nan looked at the mountains under the sunset and said firmly and powerfully: "Some people in Beijing say that I, Song Nan, am very happy. Obviously, I have made peace with the people but I have to tear up the agreement to fight against them. Obviously, the imperial treasury is empty and silver can't support this battle, but they have to choose to fight. Obviously, I can live in peace with the people. However, it provoked the end of the war. I laughed at these defamation. I have explained enough to them, but they don't understand at all. But I want to explain to you, brothers who share life and death with me. This is the best time to take back the river, even if it is difficult, you have to survive. Hetao is the in-depth gateway to the northern Xinjiang of the Ming and Song Dynasties. Only when I drive the Tarts to the north of Langshan Yin Mountain will I have real peace in the Ming Dynasty. This time, the Tarts have been severely damaged and they are powerless to fight. Can't they wait for their lives to recover and come back to revenge?

Song Nan clenched her fist and put it on her chest and said, "I don't care what others evaluate. I only do what I think I should do. One of the reasons for the declining national strength of the Ming Dynasty is caused by the border trouble. Millions of people on nine sides can't cultivate and live at ease. The border town fortresses have been built and destroyed, and the number of people fight hundreds of them every year. In this battle, 30% of the government's finances and taxes were spent on the defense of the border town. Every few years of wind and rain, the national strength has been restored, and a disaster of the Tatazi has destroyed everything. How can we strengthen the country and enrich the people in the long run? Therefore, I insist on making a break this time and completely solve the border problems.

"Some people say that what's the use of taking the river? The supply is difficult, and the defense is difficult, and it is bound to be lost in the future, just like the previous Da Ning Kaiping Guard Institute, and it is a useless job in the end. But I told them that I would never lose it after this recapture, because I was not allowed to have such a situation. As long as I was here, it would never happen.

Song Nan seemed to be making a speech. Her tone went from calm to excitement, and her expression also became excited, and her whole body became strong and confident. The golden sunset shone on him. In the eyes of the generals standing in front of him, Song Nan's whole body emitted a faint halo, which was difficult to force people to see.