Chapter 846
Breaking Camp
Qin Zhong said irritably, "How would I know? The Datong defense line is so long. I only guard the West Third Palace. If you ask me about the West Third Palace defense line, I can tell you that the defense line is still there, but it is already in a precarious state. We have suffered heavy losses in manpower, military equipment, and warhorses. Without replenishment, we will not be able to hold it after two attacks by the Northern Hu."
He paused, his voice lowering: "The defenses of other garrisons are no better than ours."
Pan Yu clutched the letter tightly, spun around twice, and asked in a low voice, "Did you contact the Duke of England?"
Qin Zhong nodded and said in a deep voice, "I have searched for them and reported the truthfully."
Pan Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Zhong felt much more relaxed and said, "Now, we can only place our hopes on the Duke of Ying."
Pan Yu looked at the letter in his hand, and after a long while shook his head: "No, we can't entrust the lives of us and our comrades to others."
Qin Zhong: "What, you think you can actually go to the Emperor and offer your advice?"
“What’s the use of remonstrating? The emperor has to be willing to listen.” Because of his family background, Pan Yu had been influenced by the emperor’s tendency to listen to only one side and was deeply impressed by his own views. He didn’t expect anything from him. He said, “We have to prepare ourselves. What should we do if we really encounter the Oirat army?”
Qin Zhong: "What else can we do but fight bravely? What else can we do but run away?"
Pan Yu choked. He really couldn't bring himself to run away, but he couldn't fight back either.
He spun around twice, pondering: "If we really encounter them, we must first protect His Majesty, but we cannot act recklessly. The Oirats are best at fast attacks and infiltrations. Their cavalry is formidable, and we cannot defeat them. If we can avoid their sharp edge, we should try to outmaneuver them and fight again. If not, then we must take advantage of their weapons."
Qin Zhong crossed his arms and said, "You're amazing. What kind of divine weapon can deal with cavalry?"
"There really is one!" Pan Yu exclaimed loudly, "A musket!"
He spun around in place: "Of course, a single musket won't do. If it's a head-on battle, we can form a battle formation, a combined force. First, we can use crossbows to suppress the enemy, then spears. It's a pity we're in the north. If it were the south, we could use bamboo swords, and finally finish them off with muskets and swords..."
Qin Zhong pondered for a moment: "What if the cavalry attacks from all sides?"
“If we’re going to fight outside Xisansuo, then we’ll use the Crescent Moon Formation,” Pan Yu said excitedly, picking up a twig and drawing on the ground. “This formation can be deployed near water. Isn’t there a river outside Xisansuo? The Oirat army will have to cross that river to attack. We’ll use crossbowmen, spearmen, and muskets to set up the formation…”
Qin Zhong stared blankly, he had never seen this formation before, and he quickly interrupted him: "Did you come up with this formation?"
"I don't have that ability. This is Liu Yu's formation. I only made slight modifications, but not too many. Don't we have muskets now?"
"Who is Liu Yu?" Qin Zhong's eyes lit up. "Your comrade?"
Pan Yu paused, then looked at him meaningfully and said, "Liu Yu, he was an emperor. Of course, before becoming emperor, he was a great general."
Qin Zhong's smile vanished, and he rolled up his sleeves.
Pan Yu was hit twice by him and howled.
A patrolling soldier looked over, but seeing that they were wearing military uniforms, he looked away.
Pan Yu then gave Qin Zhong a detailed introduction to Liu Yu.
Qin Zhong quickly asked, "Does he have any military formations that can deal with cavalry on the grasslands?"
Pan Yu stroked his chin and said, "He didn't mention it, but he did give me some inspiration. I thought the combined military formation we just came up with was pretty good. If the enemy attacks from all sides and tries to break through, then we can extend the combined military formation, like this, like this, to form a circle..."
Qin Zhong looked doubtful: "Will this work? The middle is all empty. Once one place is breached and the cavalry breaks through, your formation will be useless. Then we'll be surrounded and trapped like dumplings."
"Are you stupid? They're already inside! Close the gap immediately! Here, here, and the musketeers and swordsmen here, move in immediately! The ones getting surrounded are the cavalry who charged in, okay?"
The two engaged in a heated discussion until dusk, when they finally walked arm in arm toward the camp gate. Pan Yu instructed, "Try it when you get back. Trust me, the formation I've researched is absolutely correct."
Qin Zhong put his arm around his shoulder: "Alright, remember to report to your superior and stay with the reinforcements. We brothers will continue to fight side by side. You should try out the military formation you came up with yourself, right?"
"Of course, I will apply immediately as soon as the imperial court gives the order."
The two were full of confidence, feeling that the matter was a sure thing and that they could fight together again.
To everyone's surprise, the emperor ordered the troops to break camp and return to the capital the very next day, without mentioning the matter of leaving reinforcements behind.
Pan Yu panicked and rushed to find their commander.
As the commander was arranging for people to pack up and break camp, he saw Pan Yu asking questions incessantly and got angry, saying, "How would I know why we didn't leave reinforcements? Don't even mention asking me, even the adjutant general wouldn't be able to tell you. You'd have to ask Minister Kuang, or even Chief Secretary Wang and the Emperor. Do you dare to ask them? Can you even ask them?"
Pan Yu stopped.
Qian Zong waved his hand impatiently: "Go, go, go! Hurry up and pack your things, we're going to be late."
Pan Yu could only go back in silence.
At this moment, the British judge knelt outside the main courtyard, requesting an audience with the emperor.
After a long while, Wang Zhencai opened the courtyard gate and came out, saying to the Duke of Yingguo, "His Majesty reviewed memorials last night and slept late. He will be leaving soon, so let's talk about it another day, Duke of Yingguo?"
The British Duke stood up from the ground and stared intently at Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen's eyes flickered slightly, and he looked away, avoiding eye contact with him.
The Duke of England was indeed the Duke of England, unlike Kuang Ye and others, so Wang Zhen didn't dare to go too far.
After the Duke of England looked away, he said in a deep voice, "I wish to see His Majesty."
Wang Zhen frowned slightly.
The Duke of England stepped forward, almost face to face with him, and stared intently at him, saying, "I haven't seen His Majesty since last night. The Emperor personally led the expedition to intercept Esen's army at Datong, but His Majesty turned back before even meeting the Northern Hu. This makes me suspect that His Majesty was coerced. Wang Zhen, if you don't let me see His Majesty..."
He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist and said in a deep voice, "Then I shall purge the court of corrupt officials."
Wang Zhen's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely sensed that what the British Duke said was true.
His face paled slightly, and he conceded, "I will go and report to His Majesty."
The Emperor knew that the Duke of England was outside, but he did not want to see him and was ashamed to do so, fearing that the Duke of England would question him about why he had suddenly returned.
As the Duke of England said, he personally led the expedition, but he arrived in Datong and had not yet met with Esen's army.
Can……
Wang Zhen and Jing Yuan both said that the Oirat army had broken through the defense line and entered the rear, and could block their way back to the capital at any time.
He wanted to question Guo Deng and Guo Jing about their crime of concealing military intelligence, but Wang Zhen also said that this was not the right time. Firstly, he and Jing Yuan had only obtained the secret reports from their soldiers, and there was no evidence. If they wanted to verify the information, it would probably take a lot of effort.
Nobody knows what will happen during this investigation.
For emperors, their own safety is of paramount importance. (End of Chapter)