It is more than 100 miles away from the north-west of Datong, and before the orthodox year, it was called Xinghe Shouyu Qianhusho, and after the orthodox year, it was occupied by the re-emerging Mongols.

Located on the edge of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, this area is also the only way for the Mongols to enter the customs south. It is bounded to the west and northwest by the Daqingshan Mountains, to the northeast by hills, and to the south by the grasslands of the Yima Pingchuan.

The Yuma River meanders south from the north along the foot of Daqingshan Mountain, and after passing through this place, it turns around and goes southeast.

From Toyogawa to the west, north, and east, there are layers of highland, like a staircase with no end in sight.

The southern slope of Daqing Mountain, which is adjacent to Fengchuan, has a steep terrain, the ravines and ravines in the mountains are connected, the streams and springs are entangled, the mountains and ravines overlap, the peaks rise into the clouds, and it is a scene of ten thousand trees.

The continuous Yinshan Mountains cut off the southward movement of the cold wave from the north, making this hilly and steppe area called the Qianshan region warmer and wetter than the north of the Yinshan Mountains.

However, because this place is the edge of the border between Mongolia and the Ming Kingdom, in the event of a war, the tribes here are either destroyed by the Ming army, or the Mongolian army requisitioned cattle and sheep and strong men and break the clan.

Therefore, although the water and grass are abundant, there are no large tribes occupying this place, and only some small tribes will come here to graze.

However, when Altan Khan accepted the canonization of the Ming Dynasty, with the stability of the Ming-Mongolian border area, a Taiji of the Tumut Department settled here. And some border people of the Ming Kingdom coveted the fertile water and soil here, and secretly ran out of the pass and came here to join the Mongols to reclaim the farmland.

Therefore, at the foot of Daqing Mountain, near the bend of the Yuma River, a small town has been formed. Outside this small town called Toyokawa, thousands of acres of land have been cultivated.

Although there is no rain in the outside of the Seychelles this year, more than a dozen rivers flowing through the grasslands here still provide enough water for these farmlands, and it seems that there is a good harvest.

However, Sun Chengzong, who was standing on the top of a small hill north of Fengchuan and observing the surrounding terrain, frowned, he put down the binoculars in his hand and turned back to Yuan Chonghuan and asked, "It's mid-September now, why hasn't anyone harvested these wheat, and a few fields look like they have been spoiled by horses." ”

Yuan Chonghuan was writing a manuscript, ready to answer Sun Chengzong's question about the next war preparations, but unexpectedly heard a question that had nothing to do with the war.

He was stunned for a moment, then reacted and said, "I heard that there was going to be a war here, and when the Tumut Department was driven out of the garrison by the Chahar Department, they didn't bring out much supplies, so they searched everywhere for labor and food.

After hearing the news, some of the civilians who had been reclaimed quietly fled. The Mongols lacked the tools to harvest the wheat, and all the grain collected had to be handed in, so the Mongols lost interest in the grain in these fields.

In addition, we provide them with processed grain, which makes them even less interested in harvesting it themselves. But teacher, now that the war is coming, we still don't have to worry about these little things. ”

Sun Chengzong shook his head and said, "Others can only think about war, but you and I can't. No matter who wins or loses this war, the living still have to live.

This year, the drought in the northwest is severe, and there is no harvest in the first place, and these border people who have gone out to reclaim the land will not be able to survive even if they go back.

They are familiar with the border situation and have contacts with the Mongols, so if the Mongols are led to plunder the border fortress, it will not make it worse for our Ming Dynasty.

What's more, Sun Tzu has changed the law, eats the enemy for one minute, and is twenty bells for me. At the very least, one or two thousand stone of wheat can be harvested here, which is equivalent to transporting two or thirty thousand stone of grain from the rear, is it a trivial matter? ”

Yuan Chonghuan was suddenly a little dumbfounded, and Mao Yuanyi, who was standing on the side, rolled his eyes, and relieved Yuan Chonghuan and said: "Chief Chief, the logistics department has just sent a batch of supplies, including more than 3,000 border people, it is better to hire them to harvest these wheat."

Anyway, according to the agreement, after they delivered this trip, they would have completed this year's conscription. Xia Guan thought that they would be able to get some food just by going back a few days later, and they were willing to come. ”

Yuan Chonghuan frowned and didn't make a sound, Sun Chengzong thought for a while, then nodded and said: "This thing is feasible, but it is better to call those border people back, and those who are unwilling to come back should also pay them to buy the crops in their fields." Don't let them have no way out and go to Lin Dan Khan.

Now that it is almost the middle of September, is Lin Dan Khan really unwilling to listen to the advice of my Ming Dynasty and have to go to war with the Ming Dynasty and the right-wing Mongol tribes? ”

Yuan Chonghuan broke Sun Chengzong's illusion without hesitation, and said categorically: "According to the news brought back by Lama Li, it is indeed true, when he and Liu Jingting first arrived in Naturalization City, Lin Dan Khan also summoned them several times, and his words were quite polite.

But after that, they did not see Lin Dan Khan himself, only Guiyingcha and Gunchuk came to see them a few times, and they also sent additional men to prevent them from coming into contact with the other Chahar people.

Half a month ago, Lin Dan Khan summoned them again and humiliated them in front of everyone. detained Liu Jingting as a hostage and drove him back. It was said that he should bring a message for Lin Dan Khan to us and the leaders of the right-wing Mongolian tribes. ”

Sun Chengzong put his hands behind his back and looked at Yuan Chonghuan to explore: "What words? ”

Yuan Chonghuan said disapprerovingly: "If you want to fight, you will fight." This Lin Dan Khan wants to be a Genghis Khan and wants to go crazy, and he really regards our Ming Dynasty as a thorn in the Khanate. ”

Sun Chengzong's brows tightened, and he whispered as if he was talking to himself: "It doesn't make sense, didn't that Guiying send someone to spread the word before, saying that Lin Dan Khan intended to listen to my Ming's mediation, and only asked us to raise some favors and silver?" ”

Wu Huai, who was standing behind Sun Chengzong, said disapprovingly: "If you want the last general to say, let's fight a game and say that this Lin Dan Khan's quality will be called."

My Daming's silver is not blown by the wind, with this reward, it is better to reward the soldiers and civilians of this Datong border town, as well as our soldiers. ”

Cao Wenzhao and Zuo Liangyu, who were standing farther away, both seemed to look up at Wu Huai in some shock. One of them is the chief general of the Liaodong cavalry battalion, and the other is the chief general of the chariot cavalry battalion.

Cao Wen was awarded the rank of General Dingyuan of the third grade, and Zuo Liangyu was of the same rank as Wu Huai, and he was also the general of the fourth rank of Mingwei. Don't look at the two of them in their own army, they can only bow their heads in front of civil officials such as Sun Chengzong, Yuan Chonghuan, and Mao Yuanyi.

Xiang Wu Huai is like this, Shangguan has not yet asked, he dares to interject indiscriminately, if he is in Liaodong, I am afraid that he will have to drag it down and beat the military stick a dozen times, and then come back to talk.

The two were still thinking about whether this Mr. Sun would come out to intercede if they were angry, so that they could have a relationship with the emperor's favored general. In particular, Cao Wenzhao was very angry about the armor that was replenished to the First Cavalry Wing.

However, they were soon disappointed, and Sun Chengzong only shook his head at Wu Huai's words, and did not mean to reprimand.

And several civil officials, who have always been pretending to be military generals, seem to have forgotten Wu Huai's identity. Mao Yuanyi simply retorted: "Confused, although the Xuanda Border Army has just been rectified, can they be reborn after more than a month of rectification?"

Our army is stationed here, and it costs tens of thousands of yuan a day, and if only a small increase in the reward amount can solve this matter, it will save trouble.

The relationship between the right-wing Mongolian tribes and the left-wing Mongolian tribes is intertwined, although they have begged me to be Ming, but they may not really want to surrender to our Ming, but they just want to use the power of my Ming to resist the Chahar department.

If the Chahar tribe occupies the Hetao and Tumochuan and refuses to leave, the right-wing Mongolian tribes will still be a little submissive, and if we defeat the Chahar tribe, these Mongols will take advantage of the fire to rob. ”

Yuan Chonghuan, who has always been most disgusted with the unruly generals, not only did not reprimand Wu Huai, but nodded at him with a smile and said: "Staff Officer Wu still has to think more about the overall situation, Your Majesty has high hopes for you." ”

Wu Huai smacked his lips and said with a wry smile: "The work of planning the overall situation is still planned by a few adults, and a certain general should just charge into battle." ”

After Yuan Chonghuan got down the steps for Wu Huai, he said to Sun Chengzong: "Teacher, according to the two servants who returned with Lama Li, Lin Dan Khan changed his previous thoughts, and it seems that it is related to the persuasion of Lama Shaerhutuktu.

When Lin Dan Khan reprimanded Lama Li and them, he once mentioned that as the Great Khan of Mongolia, the right-wing Mongolian tribes dared to unite with the Ming Dynasty to resist, but they despised the majesty of the law drawn up by Genghis Khan.

And these Yellow Lamas did not think about how to persuade the right-wing Mongolian tribes, but instead made a lot of nonsense among their tribes, talking about the Mongols not fighting the Mongols, and they were really some treacherous people.

Lin Dan Khan not only asked Lama Li to bring a message to us, but also asked him to tell the leaders of the right-wing Mongol tribes. Unless he now goes to naturalization with his people, bows down at his feet, and vows to renounce the faith of the Gelug sect and embrace the Sakya sect.

Otherwise, when he comes with his troops, he will not pardon the tribal leaders who dare to rebel against him. He also told Lama Li that Chotu Khan of the Khalkha tribe of Outer Mongolia had sent people to form an alliance with him, and that the right-wing Mongolian tribes should no longer have any delusional reinforcements. ”

Sun Chengzong immediately looked at Yuan Chonghuan and said, "That Lama Li has already talked to King Shunyi?" ”

Yuan Chonghuan lowered his voice and replied: "The student let him hide it, Lin Dan Khan and Chotu Khan's alliance, the rest is honest." ”

Sun Chengzong sighed and said, "It seems that this battle, we can't do it if we don't fight." Is this the battlefield set by the General Staff? ”

Yuan Chonghuan followed Sun Chengzong's gaze, and to the north of the Yinma River, a large grassland with dots of wildflowers was shining in the afternoon sun.

He nodded meaningfully and said, "Yes, after careful investigation by the General Staff, this grassland northeast of Fengchuan, east of Daqing Mountain, and north of the Yuma River is the most suitable area for large troops to fight.

Lin Dan Khan wanted to raise troops to the south, either by making a detour to Daihai or Huangqihai. Although it is relatively close to Daihai from naturalization, it is necessary to cross the canyon of Yinshan. If we were to block the canyon, his tens of thousands of cavalry would be useless.

Therefore, if he wants to go south, he will inevitably go around the grassland north of Daqing Mountain, although it is farther away, but he does not have to worry about being ambushed by us. And from Xihewan to the south, although there are some hills and sparse forests, the entire terrain is from high to low.

If we were to engage them here, we would surely bring out the greatest power to his cavalry. Therefore, the General Staff finally chose this edge of the grassland by the Yinma River as the site of the battle against Lin Dan Khan..."