Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2179 New forces on the grassland

July is a very beautiful time on the grassland.In this season, the climate is warm, the cattle and sheep grow fat, and it is also the time when various trade activities on the grassland begin to flourish.

On the banks of the meandering Erguna River, Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu, Commander of the Hulunbuir Advance Detachment, is holding a grand banquet.This year, in response to the "rebellion" of the Barhu people, the head fish banquet after the spring was canceled. However, after gathering the four elite troops of Eastern Mongolia to pacify the enemy, Sun Wu announced to hold a supplementary feast, requiring the leaders, nobles and warriors of the clan to hold a feast. Those who are not present will be treated as rebellious.

There is no doubt that the charge of treason is very heavy, and no one can afford it.Therefore, the leaders of the four Mongolian and Shandan tribes who had conquered the Barhu people were obedient, and immediately rushed to the Ergun River in Heishantou Township to gather.Some people even came very early, bringing some furs, gold, cheese, and livestock from the tribe, and exchanged some grains from the merchants on the east coast (this is not for feeding, but for adjusting the diet), spices, sugar, Tobacco, chili, spirits and other goods that are rarely seen in the grasslands.Bringing these things back to the family can often bring several times the profits, and smart people know how to do it.

Of course, when there are more people, there will be more right and wrong.Some strong men who came with the chief thought they were brave, and after drinking a few drinks, they started fighting.This happened almost everywhere, in the market, in the tavern, outside the tent, you can see people fighting every day.The officers and soldiers stationed here on the east coast didn't think they were disobedient. They had already received instructions from their superiors. As long as these people don't go to important places (such as the Changchun Palace), they are allowed to go. As long as they don't let them move their weapons, Fighting is not a big deal.

On July 7, Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu rushed to the banks of the Erguna River west of Heishantou Township, and met with the troops from the Balhu Khan, Erile and Ke Khan, Erguna Khan, and Jirimutu Khan. The leaders of the four inner Mongolian tribes commended their previous achievements in the battle to quell the Barhu people on the Hulun Buir Grassland.At that time, these four tribes gathered about 10 people, with horses, bows and arrows, driving cattle and sheep. The people on the east bank sent [-] elite soldiers to join them, and at the same time donated some guns and ammunition to attack the Barhu people.

After the Barhu people appealed to the Qing court for help in vain, they were defeated by the Mongolian and Han officers and soldiers with a total of 3500 cavalry. More than 2000 people were killed and injured, and the rest also scattered and fled without knowing where to end.Of course, there were also some Balhu Mongolian tribes who surrendered on the spot, totaling about thousands of people, most of which were divided up by the four Mongolian tribes, and a few were incorporated by the Hulunbuir advance detachment and became Mongolian tribes directly under their control.

Overall, taking advantage of the Qing government's inability to conquer the Barhu people this time, it was relatively successful.After this battle, the largest Mongolian nomadic group on the Hulunbeier Grassland has been seriously injured.I believe that after a few more military strikes, they will be completely devastated, and they will no longer be able to resist the erosion of the Mongolian tribe of the Eastern Barhu Khan. Bateer, who is not of high background, may one day become the sweat of the entire Barhu people. This is a great honor to him, although he seems to be in charge of the East Bank Supreme Emperor.

Analyzing the action against the Balhu people from another angle, it is actually a kind of experience to strengthen the cohesion of the various ministries in the East Coast system.Carrying guns and fighting together, looting rival tribes together, and winning together, there is nothing that strengthens cohesion.And some conflicts between them (such as complaints about the unfair distribution of spoils) were greatly weakened under the mediation of the people on the east coast, and the relationship between them naturally progressed by leaps and bounds.

Compared with these Mongols, the Shandan people recruited by the Dong'an people in various parts of the Greater Khingan Mountains are much strangers to each other.Their level of civilization is lower than that of the Mongols (of course they are also more savage and fierce), and the various tribes have lived side by side for countless generations, and there are indeed many disputes caused by fishing and hunting.They fought among themselves before the East Coasters ruled them, and after their domination the fighting, though greatly reduced, was still seen from time to time.

There are more than 1000 Shandan nobles and warriors who came to the banks of the Ergun River today, and they have been blowing their beards and staring. It is still a long way to go if they want to completely twist them into a single rope and play a greater role.

"Nahai, Galdi, Bateer, and Idel, you all performed well in this campaign against the Barhu people. This commander will do what you say, and each will reward three hundred flintlock muskets, four cannons, and some gunpowder. In addition, The Barhu Mongols you captured earlier are all owned by each of you, and you don’t have to hand them over. Of course, if you have negotiated properly with Battelle and are willing to make a deal, this commander will also allow it. This is your internal affairs, and I don’t care much about it. Come, drink!" After saying these words, Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu directly picked up the cowhide water bag, took a sip of the shochu brewed by Denglai, and shouted happily.

After so many years outside the customs, he felt a little assimilated by the environment.For example, in the matter of drinking, he originally had a moderate capacity for drinking and liked to drink wine, but in this bitterly cold place outside the customs, drinking wine is often not a good thing, so after going back and forth, he fell in love with this grain shochu.And because of his "practice" a lot, his drinking capacity has also increased, and now it's not a problem to drink more than a catty.

Grand Commander Sun Wu and Sun drank, so the subordinates naturally did not dare to be negligent, and they all lowered their heads and started drinking.And after two rounds of drinking, the atmosphere gradually became active. These guys are rough people, and they naturally don't understand etiquette. The contempt of the Shandan people who sat there with a little embarrassment.Of course, it is inevitable to complain about the Russians, the Khalkha Mongolian tribes who fled south, and even the Junggar Khan tribe. They have people from the east bank as their backers, and they don’t look down on these famous forces on the grassland. , the degree of confidence is evident.

It is worth mentioning that these people try their best to talk in half-baked Chinese, and only use Mongolian when they can't speak it.This is the request of the people on the east bank, and it is also their self-consciousness. After all, they are actively learning Chinese, and Jirimutu Khan Nahai, who is the most active in hugging the thighs of the east bank, is now a strong soldier. The east bank muskets and brand-new cavalry Battle equipment, let the other three people envy and hate.Moreover, Nahai is also an important distributor of East Coast goods on the grasslands, and has accumulated a lot of wealth over the years. Everyone is not a fool, and they all see it, so naturally they will do their best to follow suit.

While the Mongols were happy, the Shandan people sitting there were a little bit upset.Ever since, under the signal of a chief, a short, stocky warrior stood up, and after obtaining the permission of Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu, he directly drew his bow and arrow, and shot down a swan that flew over everyone's heads , Immediately shocked everyone.

Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu laughed and took the swan offered by the Shandan people. He was very satisfied with their obedience and at the same time with their strength.Not to mention that this is the era of hot weapons. In fact, in the grasslands, traditional horseback riding and archery are still a key factor in determining the outcome of a battle in many cases.This Shandan warrior's archery skills are so outstanding that even the Mongols can't find much, so he was very happy and asked the orderly to bring a money box from the warehouse. There were not many people, about a few hundred All the silver dollars were rewarded to the warrior, and he kowtowed repeatedly.

"Everyone, this attack on the Barhu people has achieved quite good results. However, this is not the end. In the next step, you, Battelle, still need to eliminate all evil, conquer the disobedient tribes on the grassland, and expand our influence on the Great East Bank." After three rounds, Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu stood up and walked to the middle. The leaders of the various departments also suppressed their smiles and began to concentrate on listening to his deployment arrangements. Lieutenant Colonel Sun continued: "Idel, Nahai, you two , you must step up your advance to the northwest, gather as many Buryat tribes as possible, and expand your strength. Especially in Nahai, don't be reluctant to part with those goods. As long as you have done meritorious service in the northwest, this commander will not You will be stingy with rewards. Of course, you should also pay attention to the means of your actions, focus on cannibalization, don’t be too violent, and try to avoid direct armed conflicts with the Russians.”

"Gardi, you should return to Hexi as soon as possible, gather the scattered tribes, and at the same time find a way to get in touch with the people in Ghazan (Galdan). If their attitude is kind, then report them quickly, I have my own strategy. If they have a bad attitude and intend to annex your department, then don’t hold back, you can retreat. With our army on the east bank here, forgive those from the Junggar department not to dare to act presumptuously.” Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu said again.

In fact, at the moment when the three tribes of Khalkha and Mongolia fled south, a huge power vacuum had already appeared in the Mobei grassland.Galdan now has only more than 3 riders on hand, and it is impossible to control the entire Mobei grassland without any waves scattered on this vast grassland.At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Sun Wu, who was the commander of the Hulunbuir Advance Detachment, became more active.He intends to let the Ergun Khan under him cross the river and re-enter the Mobei Grassland. They were originally the herdsmen of the Chechen Khan, and they fled to the east bank after being dispersed by the people of Galdan. The nomadic old land can be said to be familiar with the road.Galdan's forces are now scattered in various places to plunder, and he should not come to trouble the Galdi tribe with more than 2000 cavalry in a short time. This is enough.

And once the Erguna Khan is allowed to gain a firm foothold on the Mobei Grassland, then the people from the east coast who follow can set up a stronghold here.When these strongholds along the river are built, cannons are set up on the top of the city, and hundreds of elite soldiers are stationed, even if the Galdan headquarters come, it may take a lot of effort to clear them, let alone the Kardans. Whether Erdan is willing to take care of the bad things here is another matter - no matter how good the Mobei grassland is, everyone has already run away. If Galdan wants to make a comeback, he still has to find a way in the Monan grassland!

To be fair, Lieutenant Colonel Sun Tzu's plan is still very practical.Galdan and Kangxi stared at each other with wide eyes now, neither of them dared to blink first.That being the case, there is no need for the people on the east bank to be polite. They will first extend their influence into the old land of the Chechen Khan, and then slowly plot other places.By the time Kangxi and Galdan had almost decided the winner, the Dong'an people had been operating on the Mobei grassland for several years, and they could take advantage of the chaos to expand.In this way, a huge new force on the grassland will be completely formed. A Mongolian force controlled by people from the east bank will definitely change the grassland pattern completely!

(End of this chapter)