Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 346 Batur’s plan to exhaust his troops

Immediately after the war, Talbahatai City partially recovered its prosperity. Seeing the Mongols, Kazakhs, Uighurs, Kyrgyz, and Han people coming and going in the city, as well as the dazzling array of goods they brought, Su He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, Tal Bahatai is really a wealthy city. City!
"Pass my military order, the whole army will rest for five days, and in five days the troops will be sent to Hoboksali," the fierce general's voice was sonorous and powerful. Nowadays, most of Junggar's elite soldiers are on the front line, and there are not many defenders in Hoboksali. When I think that the honor of capturing the capital of Junggar is about to fall on me, I can't help but feel excited.

The weather was unpredictable, and the emperor's thoughts were even more unpredictable. On the third day, a military order came: order your troops not to attack Hoboksali for the time being, and quickly attack Karamay to the east and cut off Batur's retreat. This was the second time he revised the battle plan, and there was another line in the military order: Annihilate the enemy's main force and the city will be content.

The emperor rarely explained when he issued military orders. In his eyes, the army was just a machine that just carried out the orders. Only for a few people with outstanding military exploits, he would attach an explanation to the military order. It was more of an honor than an explanation.

Seeing the military order, Su He understood that His Majesty the Emperor was far more interested in Wolf King Batur himself than in Hobokseri, the capital of Junggar. But in this way, the glory of capturing the enemy's capital may be passed on to others. Although I feel unwilling to do so, the military orders are like mountains. "Order the entire army to cancel their rest and immediately move east to capture Karamay," he shouted.

In Shawan City, Batur Hutaiji held a military report that was as white as iron. After a while, he exhaled and said to the general Sumail who was on duty today: "Please ask Sahaletu and Bobei, the two Taijis." Come to the big tent to discuss matters." Although Junggar has a cloud of civil servants and a rain of generals, there are only a few people who can really discuss important matters. Sahaletu is his sixth uncle, who is quick and wise, and Bobei is his think tank, full of strategies.

"Yes", Sumail took the order and left.

It was already the end of November, and the weather was freezing cold. Normally, the grassland peoples did not fight at this season, but the traitor Sultana seemed to have a grudge against Junggar, and refused to stop the offensive despite the wind and snow. The wind blew loudly, making the flagpole outside the tent bang. Batur sat upright in the tent, unmoved by the wind, as steady as a rock.

"See Huitaiji." Sahaletu and Bobei came to the big tent and saluted respectfully.

"You all take a look, things have changed on the Western Front." Batur sighed, with a touch of sadness in his voice, and ordered someone to deliver the military report to the two of them.

When the two of them took a look, it read that Boluo, Alashankou, Yumin, and Tuoli had all been lost (at this time, the news of the loss of Emin and Talbahatai had not yet reached), Bandali, Seleng, and Mo Ergen Daiqing waited for Taiji to die in battle, and couldn't help but look pale.

"Huntaiji, after the fall of Toli, Emin and Talbahatai don't have many soldiers and horses, and I'm afraid they won't be able to hold on for long. The main force of our army is mostly on the front line, and there are not many elite soldiers in Hoboksali. If the guards from the west attack Hoboksali, the situation is over!" Sahaletu said anxiously.

"What Uncle Liu said is that this is the reason why I came to discuss with you. Hoboksali is my fundamental place in Junggar. We must not lose anything. I have decided to withdraw our troops and return to defense. It's just that the enemy and our armies are entangled. How to withdraw is a question. problem".

"Have Huitai Ji read the part about Cao Cao's campaign against Zhang Lu in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms"? Yang Song advised Zhang Lu to burn all the warehouses and treasury when he retreated, leaving not a grain of food for Cao's army. As a result, Zhang Lu's wife was so benevolent, what can I say? 'The warehouses and treasury belong to the country and cannot be abolished'. As a result, Cao's army obtained sufficient food and grass and eventually perished." Bobetaiji quoted the story in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" as an example. In this era, "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was extremely popular. As a famous counselor of Junggar, he liked this book very much and often cited the stories in it as examples. "You mean~" Batur Hutaiji's eyes lit up.

"Huntai Ji, I think this is a strategy to tire out the enemy. Move all the people to Hoboksaili. Take away all the grain and grass supplies, and burn everything that can't be taken away. Be sure to do it every grain and bundle." No hay is left for the Guards. Now that winter has arrived, the Guards have difficulty transporting grain and grass from the rear. They mainly rely on collecting supplies from the local people. Without the people, supplies will inevitably be difficult. The army will disperse without food. When the Guards' food is exhausted , is the day when our army counterattacks."

"Bobei, although your plan is good, it is too poisonous. As a result, the southern part of Junggar will inevitably be thousands of miles bare. Moreover, going north to Hoboksali requires passing through the vast desert. So many people crossing the desert will inevitably suffer heavy casualties. These may be the people of Junggar. They are all dead. How can we stand in the future?" Sakhaletu objected.

"If they are not moved away, they will become the common people of Weiguo. It is better to let them die in the desert than to leave them to the enemy. When fighting for the world, Huitaiji must not be kind to women, otherwise it will be Another Zhang Lu," Bobetaiji shouted.

"Alas! Although your plan is good, it will greatly weaken our Junggar army. How will we compete for the throne of Oirat in the future?" Batur sighed.

"If Huitaiji wants to save the people, there is another way, but it will take some effort," Bobei said eloquently. "You can divide the team going north into two groups, military and civilian. The main force of our army will go north through the Junggar Desert and return to Hoboksali; Then some soldiers and horses were sent to gather the people in Urumqi. Chuhu'er Ubastaiji led the army to escort the people from Urumqi, detouring around the edge of the Junggar Desert to the southern foot of the Altai Mountains. That is my ancestral land of the Junggar, and it is very suitable for rest and recuperation." .

When he mentioned the southern foothills of the Altai Mountains, Batur nodded frequently, but suddenly became a little worried, "The southern foothills of the Altai Mountains are close to the Khalkha Mongolia. What should I do if the Khalkhas raise an army and rob my subjects?"

Bobei smiled, "Why did you forget? The tribes of Khalkha have paid 'Nine White Tributes' to the Qing Dynasty, and they are vassals of the Qing Dynasty. The imperial uncle of the Qing Dynasty, the Regent, has always supported you, please ask him for an edict The Khalkha tribes must not make things difficult for the Junggar herdsmen who are seeking refuge in the Altai Mountains."

"Wonderful! What a great idea you have!" Hearing him mention the "imperial uncle and regent" in Beijing, Batur Hutaiji gained a little more confidence. Although he had never met Dorgon, he was inexplicably confident in his talent and strategy. He believed that the Si people would definitely take action to prevent Weiguo from annexing Junggar, otherwise the Qing would lose an important bargaining chip to check and balance Weiguo.

Yes, chips, or chess pieces!

Batur knew clearly that in the grand chess game between the Qing and the Wei for hegemony, the little Junggar was just a pawn. He has continued to accumulate strength over the years, but it has only made Junggar more important than other chess pieces. There is still a long way to go before he wants to become an equal player like Dorgon and Sultan.

(End of this chapter)