I

Between Daqing and Qiqihar, there is a pasture with rivers and lakes.

This place originally belonged to the Dulbert Mongolian territory. After several years of fighting, the Dulbert banners have been divided between the Horqin Mongolian banners. The leaders of the two banners were all beheaded, and Horqin Mongolia appointed Taiji (prince) to rule.

Now, Horqin's main force went to the west to attack, while Hong Guoer and the Manzhu ritual tribesmen all withdrew to this grassland with their property, livestock and food.

"Jinong (Deputy Khan, Prince), the traces ahead are getting newer and fresher. The enemy's tribe is definitely not far away."

"Abandon the logistics and equipment, leave three thousand people to escort, and follow me to pursue the rest at full speed!"

Darhan gave the order and led more than 40,000 cavalry, abandoning the logistics and baggage and advancing at full speed. They also divided their troops into two groups, heading north along the Nen River and going north around Lianhuan Lake.

Autumn in Lianhuan Lake is beautiful. The clear lake water reflects the blue sky, and the lakeside is full of reeds undulating in the wind. There were still many wheat fields that had not been harvested, and thick smoke was rising. The Horqin people burned the wheat that could not be taken away. Continuing to the north, there is a large forest of Populus euphratica, with its golden yellow Populus euphratica leaves reflected in the lake like a paradise.

But neither the pursuing nor the fleeing parties were in the mood to enjoy this beautiful scenery.

The person who led Horqin's tribe to escape was a woman named "Bo Li". One of her daughters (Dayu'er) married Huang Taiji; her other daughter married Dorgon.

"Second Concubine, Second Concubine, the enemy is coming!"

Bo Li's title in the Qing Dynasty was "Second Concubine Horqin". There is also "Concubine Horqin", Bo Li's mother-in-law, who has died of illness long ago.

Bo Li was an old woman. She reined in her horse and looked behind her: "We can't escape. We have too many cattle, sheep, chariots and horses, and we can't outrun the enemy's cavalry. We shouldn't miss the wheat here, and we shouldn't covet the comfort here. In the past few days, we can't escape." It’s time to continue evacuating to the north. Everyone, take up arms and prepare to fight.”

"Ta-ta-ta-ta!"

Along the way north along the Nen River, the Khalkha cavalry took the lead in catching up with Horqin's tribe.

Twenty thousand cavalry faced tens of thousands of old, weak, women and children, as well as more than 4,000 Han slaves.

Darhan ordered: "Don't kill young women, don't kill young children, don't kill Han slaves, kill all the rest!"

Twenty thousand Khalkha cavalry began to disperse and outflank, shooting arrows at the outer perimeter of Horqin's tribe along the way.

Bo Li led a group of noble women, holding weapons and preparing to fight.

Seeing themselves surrounded from all sides, many members of the small tribes laid down their weapons without any resistance. And those thousands of Han slaves just lay down on the ground. No matter who wins or loses, they are the same.

"Woooooo~~~~"

The rumbling horn sounded, and the Khalkha cavalry began to charge feint. After two consecutive waves of charges in various places, Horqin's tribe collapsed before they could engage the enemy, because they were not soldiers in the first place.

Group after group of Khalkha cavalry charged and divided Horqin's tribe, and began to kill all living people except young women, young children, and Han slaves.

Because Bo Li was too old, he was hacked to death as soon as he met him.

Among the aristocratic women following her, the elderly ones were all dead, while the ones without gray hair were tied up.

It only took an hour for the battle to be over.

"Jinong, the interrogation is clear. These are Hong Guoer's wife and daughter-in-law. Over there are Manzhu Xili's wife and daughter-in-law." An officer came over with more than 20 women to report.

Darhan glanced at them, pointed at the two women with declining looks, and said, "Kill them."

Since the leader Horqin's woman has lost her beauty, she can only be killed and cannot be rewarded to his subordinates. As for those who are still pretty, even if they are pregnant, they will of course be given to the Noyans in Khalkha Mongolia.

Darkhan rode forward, pointed at a beautiful woman and asked, "Who are you?"

The beautiful woman did not answer. The officer from before said: "She is the daughter-in-law of Manzhu."

Darhan glanced at her slightly bulging belly and asked, "Are you pregnant?"

The beautiful woman finally spoke: "Excuse me, Khan."

"I am not the Great Khan, I am the Deputy Khan of Khalkha," Darhan said. "If you are willing to follow me, I will protect your safety. I will also raise the child in your belly as my own."

"Thank you, Deputy Khan, for your kindness!" The beautiful woman knelt down to thank him.

This is what the grassland campaign is all about: snatching away women, snatching away children, snatching away livestock, and snatching away slaves. Ordinary young men can be retained, but the leaders of various tribes will basically die, unless the leader does not completely fail and surrenders with his tribe before defeat.

Darhan went through another round of selection, and unexpectedly picked a middle-aged woman.

Upon asking, it turned out to be a concubine who was full of beauties and practiced etiquette. He accepted it immediately and took the nominal mother-in-law and daughter-in-law together to be his own wives.

It was not easy for him to continue picking. The rest would be sent to Chahun Dorji and handed over to the Khan of Khalkha for unified distribution.

The thousands of captured Han slaves served as temporary husbands, responsible for escorting women, children, livestock and food.

These Khalkha cavalry, with numerous captives, turned westward to continue looking for Horqin's main force.

west.

Horqin's main force, due to the failure of setting up an ambush, retreated north to the mountains on the west side of Qiqihar with the troops and livestock of Horqin's right-wing front banner.

We can continue to retreat, but the final outcome will definitely be to get into the Greater Khingan Mountains.

Several leaders were gloomy and scolded the eighteen generations of Nurhachi, Huang Taiji, Dorgon, and Zhao Han countless times.

If we go back twenty or thirty years, both the Chahar tribe and the Horqin tribe will be able to defeat the Khalkha Mongols in Mobei. It was precisely because of the repeated struggles of the Manchu and Datong courts that Monan Mongolia rapidly declined, and now it is actually being pursued and beaten by Mobei Mongolia as its grandson.

The huge Horqin Grassland, even if it is now unanimously open to the outside world, has less than 50,000 troops in total, half of which are still scum.

Lama Shixi couldn't help but said: "Otherwise, the whole clan should surrender to Khalkha."

Manzhu Xili looked cold and retorted: "It's not like you haven't seen the surrender envoy from Khalkha. That bastard Chahu Dorji threatened to be the Great Khan of all Mongolia and wanted to be the second Genghis Khan. This kind of thing How can the Han emperor still endure the words? We have already learned how powerful the Datong Army is. Now that we surrender to Khalkha, what will we do if the Datong Army attacks us in the future? Chahu Dorji’s hometown is in Mobei, we But our pasture is in the Horqin Grassland. When the Han emperor sends troops, he will be the first to attack us!"

Hong Guoer said: "Even if you want to surrender, you should surrender to the Han emperor. It is better to accept the Han people's conditions and spit out the territory annexed in the past two years. The entire Horqin grassland is divided into ten guards. From now on, it will serve as a guard post for the Han court. Commander."

Lama Shixi complained in his heart. It would be easy for you to surrender. The territory is close to the Han people. My territory is the first to bear the brunt. Next time the Khalkha Mongols come to attack, I will definitely be the first one to attack!

After retreating for two consecutive days, Horqin's main force retreated into the mountainous area again, intending to use the terrain to fight against the Khalkha army.

At the same time, Hong Guoer and Manzhu learned the rituals and sent spies in the direction of Qiqihar, wanting to know the whereabouts of their people.

One evening, the sentry horse ran back wildly, bringing shocking news.

In order to harvest wheat around Lianhuan Lake, the tribesmen who were supposed to retreat north quickly were delayed there for several days and were wiped out by the Khalkha cavalry.

Hong Guoer, who was already old, fell ill immediately after receiving the news.

Hong Guoer called Manzhu Xili to discuss: "Let's not fight anymore, it is related to the survival of the entire Horqin. I will leave the seat of the Great Khan to you. My sons will also obey your orders. . I am sick now, I am afraid I won’t live long. You immediately lead the army, cross the Xing’an Mountains, and detour south from the west. Go and join the Han people. You can agree to any conditions. You must use the Datong Army to take back our pastures and take back our country. clan and property!”

While the two were discussing countermeasures, the news had already spread among the army.

That night, many leaders of small tribes led their troops and fled at night. Although they belong to the Horqin tribe, they have been separated for many years, each occupying a piece of pasture.

Now, their tribesmen have been captured. They quickly go to Khalkha and get back their tribesmen and part of their property. They are just small tribal leaders. If they sincerely surrender, the Khalkha Mongolia will be happy to accept them, and they may even take the opportunity to expand their pastures.

"Father, do we really want to leave?"

"If you don't leave now, it will be too late!"

Lama Shixi, one of the three major forces in Horqin, actually wanted to join Khalkha. He still has his men and property in hand. As long as he takes action first, he can probably keep most of them. At most, he will have to change his residence and pasture to a poorer place to live, which will not be so prosperous in the future.

at night.

Small tribes continued to leave on horseback, and when Lama Shixi's tribe set off, it suddenly became more noisy and chaotic.

Hong Guoer, who was sick, sat up in shock, called his son and asked: "Is Khalkha coming to kill?"

"I don't know." The son replied in panic.

Not long after, Manzhu Xili ran over in a panic: "Shi Xina has taken his people away, and he will definitely surrender his clan to the enemy. Let's leave quickly. If we don't leave, we will be besieged. We must immediately cross the Xing'an Mountains and go south!"

The place where they retreated and garrisoned was already very far north. There was only a narrow valley that could cross the Xing'an Mountains to the west. By the time they got out of the mountains, they were almost at the Hulunbuir Grassland.

To the southwest of Qiqihar, Lama Shixi came to surrender with his tribe.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Chahun Dorji, who dreamed of becoming Genghis Khan, burst out laughing with satisfaction: "Send your troops south to attack Badali!"

The entire forces in the Horqin Grassland have either fled or been conquered, leaving only Badali who works as a dog for the Datong Army.

Chahu Dorji brazenly sent troops to destroy Badali. This move was tantamount to declaring war on the Han court.

Badali was not stupid. Seeing Hong Guoer and others being chased farther and farther away, he already felt that something was wrong. When the Khalkha army sent troops to fight him, Badali had already led his troops to Chifeng.

If we can't defeat you, why can't we run away?

There are Han dads over there in Chifeng, so come if you are awesome. Thief Sun, I can’t kill you!