Chapter 150

The Qin built the Great Wall like an iron prison, the barbarians dare not cross Lintao.

As a dangerous pass, sections of the Great Wall are mostly built along the mountains, which is extremely suitable for looking into the distance.

Whether it is a fortress, a pass, or a watchtower, or even this pass called Xifengkou under Qi Jiguang, one can see very far.

Xifengkou wall is five zhang high, three zhang wide, and one hundred zhang long, built entirely of stones stacked from inside to outside, with a city tower one or two zhang high in the center, called the Wangri Tower.

Qi Jiguang stood in front of the Wangri Tower, rubbing a metal copper tube in his hand, frequently placing it before his right eye, as if peeping at the scenery through the tube.

Soldiers patrolling nearby.

Scout sentries patrolling not far away.

The Yanshan Mountains, covered in heavy snow, stretching endlessly.

And even as far as the eye could see... the vastness outside the border.

The already open field of vision could actually see further when peeping through the tube!

Good stuff.

Qi Jiguang put down the telescope in his hand, rolled up a cloth to wipe it, and seemed quite reluctant to part with it.

He was not old, only forty-six, but his face looked a bit weathered.

Fortunately, although he had been in the army for many years, his figure had not been assimilated into being burly; apart from his skin being quite tanned, his features were upright and his behavior was measured, appearing quite scholarly.

At this time, a burly military officer, clad in armor and holding a weapon, wrapped in a cold wind and an aura of solemnity, walked up to Qi Jiguang.

Four personal guards stepped aside, and the man bowed: "Commander Qi, I had the scouts explore the vicinity, but they didn't smell any Tatar scent; they really ran damn fast."

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang seemed to have expected it and said nothing.

He just picked up the telescope again and looked toward the outside of the border, just in time to see three or five scouts returning, gathering toward this pass.

While looking, he said: "These days, Dong Huli has been visiting the leaders of the Tumet Khan's tribes everywhere, Chilaohai, Huataiji, Zaisanghu, Tumei... I don't know how many people he has gathered."

"These two days the snow has stopped, and the tribes are probably coming together to probe our army's strength."

"Not just Xifengkou, enemy intelligence also came from Qingshankou last night."

"They are restless!"

The Duoyan Guard is sandwiched between the Tumet Khan and the Great Ming Dynasty; they are average in combat power, but they are old hands at gathering people everywhere and leading bandits to invade.

This is also why it is said, "The defense of the Tatars in Ji must rely on the barbarians as scouts, and the invasion of the Tatars must rely on the barbarians as guides."

Last night outside Xifengkou, there were shadows of horses and men, seemingly enemy Hu cavalry.

Fortunately, they were discovered by the garrison.

And Wang Zhiyu, who was experienced in garrisoning, immediately organized troops to guard the pass, stood in battle array, and immediately sent a message to the Jizhen headquarters.

Fortunately, it was peaceful until dawn.

But listening to Qi Jiguang's tone, it was clear that it was not just his place that sent enemy intelligence.

Wang Zhiyu's fleshy face squeezed out a look of regret, baring his teeth and rubbing his neck: "I don't even know how to write the word 'death'."

"It's a pity that I was careful last night and didn't dare to chase them out, otherwise I could have caught a tongue."

Cavalry come and go like the wind; if they are delayed for a moment, they disappear without a trace.

This is also the reason why they dare to run to the foot of the Great Wall to spy.

If you go to investigate now, naturally you won't even smell a scent.

Qi Jiguang knew this was a soldier talking tough and it couldn't be taken seriously.

But he still urged Wang Zhiyu to strengthen defenses and increase vigilance.

The latter hurriedly expressed his determination to execute it, and only then was he sent back to reorganize the military equipment.

Qi Jiguang shook his head and led the adjutants and personal guards who came from Jizhen down the tower.

Zhang Gong, the Deputy Regional Commander of Jizhen who came with him and was by Qi Jiguang's side, said in a deep voice: "There have been three battles this year!"

"In early March, Chang'ang and Dong Huli of the Duoyan Guard had over 10,000 troops and knocked on Xifengkou."

"In June, as soon as the guest troops gathered there withdrew, the enemy Tatars took the opportunity to invade Yiyuankou and Kulongtai."

"In September, enemy intelligence came again from Damaoshan and Xiaohekou."

"Even in winter, there are constant scouts."

"It just doesn't let people take a nap!"

It was precisely because of that battle in June that he, Zhang Gong, was granted the title of Deputy Regional Commander for "fighting bravely to block, actually making not a single rider get close to the border."

It can be said that since Yingke invaded the border in the first year of Longqing, there had not been such frequent battles for several years.

Qi Jiguang shook his head: "At the time of changing the reign, it is always like this."

"Guarding against thieves for a thousand days, one can only block them when they come."

Speaking of this, Deputy Regional Commander Zhang Gong's expression was moved.

After signaling the personal guards to walk further away, he whispered to Qi Jiguang quite sneakily: "Commander Qi, I heard that regarding the central government's inquiry about whether to send troops to the Duoyan Guard, Governor Liu's memorial has already been sent to the capital today; what do we say here?"

"Commander Qi, anyway, my idea is that there is only the saying of being a thief for a thousand days, and no reason for guarding against thieves for a thousand days."

The Governor Liu he spoke of refers to the Grand Coordinator of Jiliao, Liu Yingjie, who oversees the military and political affairs of Jiliao.

Logically speaking, he is the direct superior of the officers and soldiers of Jiliao.

But at the end of last year, the central government, for some reason, inexplicably promoted Qi Jiguang to the substantive rank of Left Regional Commander, stationed in Jizhou, with the special position of Governor of Training Troops for the Four Frontiers.

This Governor is of course different from the Grand Coordinator of Jiliao, Liu Yingjie, who came from the jinshi background.

Liu Yingjie is a civil official who manages the military and political affairs of Jiliao.

And Qi Jiguang's position is a special privilege, still limited to military affairs.

As for the purpose of the central government doing this, it is even more obvious—after specially granting Qi Jiguang the position, the central government ordered the Grand Coordinator of Jiliao, Liu Yingjie, to be stationed in Liaodong to supervise the military and political affairs of Jiliao.

This raised Qi Jiguang's status, making him not have to be overly controlled by Liu Yingjie, while also effectively dividing Jiliao into two and separating the two.

In other words, not to mention Liaodong, at least the military affairs of Jizhen are now led by Qi Jiguang in name and reality.

This kind of breaking-the-rules promotion that goes against common sense is clearly favored by someone in the central government.

What is even more obvious is.

The Cabinet is now planning whether to move troops against the Duoyan Guard, and they actually took the initiative to write to ask for the opinions of military officials!

This is truly unexpected in the Ming Dynasty, which suppresses military officials with civil ones.

But precisely because of this, the Grand Coordinator Liu Yingjie inevitably developed resistance.

Although he was wary of the "big shot" behind Qi Jiguang and would not make things difficult for Qi Jiguang in official business.

But the face of being humble to the virtuous that he had before was never seen again.

After the central government's letter arrived two days ago, Qi Jiguang was afraid that Jiliao would have different opinions and be laughed at by outsiders, so he took the initiative to communicate with Governor Liu, preparing to unify their opinions before submitting a memorial together.

Unexpectedly, Liu Yingjie did not reply a single word.

Not only that, but today he actually sent the memorial directly to the capital without saying a word.

Hearing Deputy Regional Commander Zhang Gong's words, the worry in Qi Jiguang's eyes flashed and disappeared.

He knew deeply that in the Ming Dynasty, if a military official really wanted to make achievements, it was impossible not to rely on civil officials.

Don't look at his frequent additions of titles and honors now, but Liu Yingjie has plenty of ways to handle him; even a single impeachment memorial is not something he can handle.

It is still necessary to find an opportunity to repair the relationship.

Otherwise, a heart full of patriotic enthusiasm being wasted for such a small matter would be the regret of a lifetime.

Qi Jiguang's thoughts drifted slightly.

But on the surface, he showed nothing, still looking like he was in control, signaling Deputy Regional Commander Zhang Gong not to be impatient.

He pondered for a moment: "The situation of the Duoyan Guard... since Governor Liu submitted the memorial alone, it should not be different from the facts, so we will report according to the facts."

"As for the sending of troops you mentioned..."

Speaking of this, Qi Jiguang shook his head: "That Mongol Khan is probably happy to see this."

The Duoyan Guard has not always been a mortal enemy of the Great Ming Dynasty.

Before the Gengxu Crisis, the leaders and officials of the Three Guards still "paid tribute from Xifengkou every year as usual."

It is mostly because the Duoyan Guard suffered from the slaughter and looting of the Tumet Khan and had to lean toward the Great Ming Dynasty—"Although they were slaughtered and looted by the Tatars for years, they never attached themselves to the outside."

Even because of the place where the Duoyan Guard grazed, "the mountains stretch for thousands of miles, and the Sa River surrounds the mountains, which is truly a natural danger," it once became a natural barrier outside the Great Ming Dynasty, thereby avoiding the attacks of the Tumet Khan.

Even after the Gengxu Crisis, the Mongol Right Wing sent troops to station in the Duoyan Guard, but the Duoyan Guard tribes still dealt with them perfunctorily and were unwilling to be guides—"Since the Gengxu Crisis, the barbarians have been stationed near the border, caring for their wives and children, not letting the Tatars know the twists and turns of the roads, so the trouble has not been deep."

When did the situation change?

The high officials in the court might be indifferent, but Qi Jiguang knew it clearly.

That is since the Mongol Khan ascended the throne in the 37th year of Jiajing.

From that time on, the Mongol Left and Right Wings reached a consensus to join forces to annex the Duoyan Guard.

Chen Dahan and Huang Taiji joined forces to plunder the horses, cattle, and sheep of the Duoyan tribes; under the pretext of marrying Duoyan tribal women, they chased the Chaohe River for a long time—"The intention is to threaten the Three Guards to submit, and then connect the guards to plot against the Great Ming Dynasty, which is understandable."

It was also after this year that when the Jizhen official documents and memorials discussed the situation, it finally changed from the Duoyan Guard being "like a scorpion or snake, the situation is not yet fixed" to "all the barbarians have been threatened and followed, the tribes have moved far away, some are guides, some follow the looting."

In the 38th year, the Duoyan Guard acted as dogs for the Mongol Right Wing, acted as guides for Altan Khan's younger brother Kundulun and his son Xin'ai Huang Taiji, led tens of thousands of people, and attacked the Jizhou border.

In the 40th year, the Duoyan Guard acted as dogs for the Mongol Left Wing again, joined forces with tens of thousands of people including the Tumet Khan to break through the Qiangzi Ridge, looted Tongzhou, and killed countless people.

Until the first year of Longqing, when Yingke, the leader of the Duoyan Guard, was driven by the Tumet Khan and died of firearms when he invaded the pass again.

Finally, the blood feud between the two sides became deeper and deeper.

This is naturally what the Tumet Khan is happy to see.

That is why Qi Jiguang said that if they send troops to destroy the nest, it might be exactly what the Tumet Khan wants.

Deputy Regional Commander Zhang Gong frowned upon hearing this.

After a while, he smacked his lips uncomfortably: "Then Commander Qi's meaning is that you don't approve of using troops against the Duoyan Guard?"

After saying this, he seemed to feel that his tone was not very good, and hurriedly added: "Hey, anyway, the brothers all listen to you; you give a definite word, and I can go back and arrange it in advance."

After Qi Jiguang obtained the support of the central government, he could immediately command more than 81,200 main troops and more than 60,000 guest troops in Jizhen; apart from his official rank, his greater reliance was naturally his prestige!

As a famous hero who fought north and south, Qi Jiguang's prestige was fought for.

Even though Deputy Regional Commander Zhang Gong was eager to move because he smelled the scent of military merit, seeing that Qi Jiguang had other ideas, he immediately expressed his support.

Qi Jiguang did not answer upon hearing this.

Seeming to have a plan long ago, Qi Jiguang's eyes were deep, and he slowly said: "Use troops! We must use troops! But we cannot just focus on one corner!"

Zhang Gong was confused and puzzled after hearing this.

Commander Qi is good at everything.

It's just that this scholarly style is unbearable.

It's fine that the military books he wrote are full of classical Chinese, but his speech is always hidden with deep meaning, and he refuses to speak easily until there is a conclusion, or even until the eve of the battle.

There is no straightforwardness of a military background at all!

Qi Jiguang knew he was unhappy, but he did not explain.

This is an answer to the central government's inquiry; since they only asked him and Governor Liu, he cannot easily reveal his intentions.

However, his meaning was actually expressed very clearly.

Even though the Duoyan Guard had invaded and knocked on the pass several times before.

The central government still rewarded them many times and sent people to express to them several times that as long as they no longer acted as guides for the Tumet Khan, they could open border trade.

Although the posture was a bit humble, the effect was naturally there.

The internal differences of opinion in the Duoyan Guard are mostly based on this.

Dong Huli, the uncle of the leader Chang'ang, held the army on the grounds that Chang'ang was young, firmly leaned toward the Tumet Khan, and relied on frequent harassment of the Ji border, knocking on the pass three times a year, and had already gained the support of the Tumet Khan.

While the leader Chang'ang is the direction of the people's hearts, has gained the firm support of the property owners of the Duoyan Guard, and intends to attach to the Great Ming Dynasty and open border trade.

This is the substantive reason for the behavioral division of the Duoyan Guard.

Especially three months later, the Emperor issued an edict allowing Chang'ang to come forward and open border trade.

The infighting between the two became more and more obvious.

Since this is the case, we cannot easily kill the Duoyan Guard indiscriminately.

Instead, we should quickly behead Dong Huli, then support Chang'ang, open border trade, restore the order of the Duoyan Guard, use the Duoyan as a barrier again, and even use it as a springboard to attack the Tumet Khan!

Qi Jiguang will explain these things to the Emperor and the Cabinet in the memorial.

But there is no need to speak them out casually in broad daylight.

Before Qi Jiguang walked down the Great Wall, he looked at the outside of the border again, his eyes placed extremely high and far, and muttered: "Since the central government intends..."

"The confrontation between the Son of Heaven and that Mongol Khan has just begun, and there will be plenty of military merits for General Liu in the future."

Qi Jiguang thought of the news he heard recently.

Wang Chonggu entering the Cabinet... training the Beijing Camp... reissuing military pay... and even the intention to use troops against the Duoyan Guard at the moment.

The new Emperor vaguely has the bearing of Emperor Wuzong.

If this is really the case, the southern Japanese pirates, northern Tatars, eastern barbarians, and western barbarians... there are too many places to make achievements!

For the long-term plan, the first examination paper of the central government must be answered beautifully!

South of the Ordos is the Aomu Forest, and north of it is the Laomu Forest; the eastern Tatar Tumet is stationed here.

The Tumet is Tümen, the fifth-generation grandson of Dayan Khan, the eldest grandson of the Little Prince, and also the current Mongol Khan, Borjigin Tümen.

The Tumet Khan's camp is set up in the Chahar Myriarchy, grazing in the Xilamulun River basin.

About five or six hundred li from the Ji border.

The main body has 60,000 soldiers who can draw bows, and counting the other two myriarchies he actually controls, he has 100,000 troops.

Such a behemoth, even if the outer Mongols see it, they dare not breathe easily.

Let alone the Jurchen outsiders who come to do business and peddle.

Nurhaci carefully followed behind the elders and warriors of his family, looking around curiously.

The Mongol Khan's camp is set up on the vast grassland.

The Khan's tent and the tents of relatives, confidants, and generals are spread out inside and out, surrounding a core circle in the center of the grassland, where idlers are not allowed to enter.

From time to time, messenger cavalry rush in and out to deliver military intelligence.

Not far from the camp, a team of well-trained cavalry is practicing; the sound of hooves and horns are intertwined, echoing from afar.

Strangers are not allowed to enter, yet it reveals mystery and power everywhere.

Nurhaci only felt that his whole heart had been hooked away.

It's a pity that he was only following his family to sell goods and had no status; let alone watching up close, even walking around at will was not allowed.

Nurhaci is a Jurchen; his ancestors were the Myriarch of the former Yuan Odoli Myriarchy, and there was naturally no lack of glory, but after six generations, the family had long since declined.

What if he didn't understand?

Deng Shao Yu hurriedly agreed.

Zhang Juzheng nodded and walked into another room.

Deng Shao Yu was very observant and hurriedly presented a cylinder the thickness of a wrist and the length of a forearm to Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng took it curiously.

Only when it was in his hand did he see clearly that the cylinder was made of copper, with lenses embedded inside.

"This is?"

Deng Shao Yu hurriedly explained: "Chief Minister, this object is called a 'Siting' (Cylinder), and His Majesty bestowed the name 'Telescope.' It is similar to glasses and can be used to observe, but it can only be used for distant objects."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng followed suit, placed it in front of his eyes, and looked outside.

At just one glance, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but exclaim.

He thought it was the same as glasses and could treat eye diseases.

He didn't expect that as soon as he put it in front of his eyes, things suddenly became several times larger!

He could see extremely far!

He could even see a table of people drinking in a restaurant in the distance! And it was exceptionally clear!

Deng Shao Yu introduced from the side: "Since the Yuan Dynasty, glasses have particularly aroused His Majesty's curiosity."

"Now the lens industry is most developed in Hangzhou, so the Academy sent people to learn half a year ago and even dug up two old masters."

"Not only did they get the wonder of flat, concave, and convex lenses, but they also made many objects like the 'Siting' and 'Kuizhong' (Microscope)."

Although Deng Shao Yu was young, he knew what it meant to show off in front of people.

For things without results like before, one should use a pile of powerful vocabulary to make outsiders not understand and show how powerful it is.

And for things with simple processes but significant results like lenses, one should hide the process and talk about the results.

Sure enough, Zhang Juzheng became even more curious: "Kuizhong?"

He had seen the cylinder, and this Kuizhong was clearly something new.

Deng Shao Yu pointed to a cylinder fixed on the table and introduced: "That was for looking far, and this Kuizhong is for looking small, er... His Majesty bestowed the name 'Microscope'."

It was also annoying to say.

Siting, Kuizhong, such poetic names, but the Emperor bestowed a pile of straightforward and unpoetic names.

Not respecting the inventor at all!

Zhang Juzheng bent over and looked at the whole appearance of the microscope.

The deconstruction was more complex than the previous telescope.

A frame was placed on the table, a small lens as thin as a cicada's wing was embedded in the frame, and there was another lens below, the two separated by a distance, and their lines of sight overlapped just right.

At the very bottom, a glass slide was placed.

It didn't seem to be washed very clean, and there was a lot of dust on it.

With a move in his heart, he curiously poked his head out and put his eyes on the microscope.

He didn't look at it, but at this look, he exclaimed: "It's actually insect eggs!"

This was not dust at all! It was clearly insect eggs!

Clear and incomparable, every detail was visible!

He hadn't seen it clearly at first.

Now under the lens, it was actually magnified several times!

Deng Shao Yu said proudly: "When we first studied lenses, we found that two overlapping ones could magnify things several times, and if the structure was reasonable, it was even better than a telescope!"

"So it was named Kuizhong, and this thing can magnify things nine times!"

This magnification was enough to see the structure of the finest insect eggs, so it was called Kuizhong.

At first, someone even suggested calling it a "Flea Mirror," but after much talk, the Emperor finally bestowed the name Microscope.

Zhang Juzheng kept looking at the microscope.

After a long while, he reluctantly let go.

He turned to look at Xu Jie and said slowly: "Are there any more of these two mirrors? Can you send one to the Cabinet?"

When people see novel things, they inevitably have some interest.

Especially since Zhang Juzheng was thinking about checking the Emperor's hobbies, he naturally had to practice it himself.

What's more... that telescope should be sent to Wang Chonggu to see!

The Ministry of War would definitely like it too!

If used well, this is a heavy weapon of the country!

Good, good, good! Even if the little Emperor has personal hobbies, it is still more beneficial to the country and the people than Emperor Shizong!

After Zhang Juzheng finished asking, before Xu Jie could speak, Deng Shao Yu's face turned bitter: "Chief Minister, the telescope is still okay, but the microscope has to wait until we finish the experiment to free up our hands."

"This thing is now managed by Li Chengming, and it's not easy to get a second one."

Don't look at these little gadgets as inconspicuous.

They were all handmade and not mass-produced.

The telescope was okay; it had been made for a long time, and the experiment had been completed according to the requirements.

But the microscope's experiment was not finished, and the structure was a whim given by the Emperor by chance. Everyone didn't understand the principle, and there was still a lot of work to do in the later experiments. Only after finishing would there be time for mass production—especially since the Emperor said it was not clear enough and asked them to optimize it by fine-grinding the lenses.

The Emperor's topic was not finished, so how could they have time to please the Cabinet.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng felt a pity in his heart and had to take a telescope first.

He urged Xu Jie again and again: "Teacher, if the research is finished, send some to the Cabinet."

Xu Jie nodded with a smile.

Subsequently, the group went around to other rooms.

Similarly, it was in the form of the Emperor having doubts, sending people tasks, and allocating topics.

Including all kinds of strange things.

"Force and Speed: Organize and summarize, design arguments."