.The sky was covered with dark clouds. Although it was already the hour of Mao, I still couldn't see my five fingers.

There were eight large lanterns hanging high in front of Chengtian Gate. "Because the country's funeral was not lost, they were all covered with white cloth. The light was bleak, shining on the officials waiting to face in front of the palace gate, reflecting gloomy or even terrifying faces, and the atmosphere was extremely heavy." It was in sharp contrast to the lively scene where officials joked and joked in front of Chengtian Gate.

There was a slight commotion among the silent crowd, and the officials followed the sound and saw two lanterns guided by the Grand Secretary walking from the direction of the cabinet. "It was obvious that the cabinet masters did not sleep all night" to study countermeasures.

The officials looked around and wanted to see some information from the faces of the pavilions...... The ones walking in the front were the chief assistant Xu Jie and the second assistant Gao Gong. Xu Jie was still the ancient Jing Wubo, and no one could tell anything, but from the pavilion of the pavilions, you can guess that the situation seemed to be worse than expected.

The pavilions always get stuck in time. Just after the squad was standing, the bells rang out from the drum tower, and Chengtian Gate slowly opened. All officials lined up silently, rushing to the crowd... In the Golden Palace, Emperor Longqing had been waiting there for a long time. Although he was greedy for comfort and especially did not like to get up early, the subsequent alarm sounds made the young emperor insomnia all night, and he couldn't wait to see his ministers for the first time.

When the officials shouted long live on the mountain, the emperor felt a sense of security, but it quickly disappeared from the voice of the Honglu Temple proclaimed the imperial edict. "The official first read the secret memorial of the governor of Anda Wang Zhigao: "I have detected the chief Altan and led 80,000 iron cavalry, and have bypassed Datong from Jinzhong. I am afraid that the capital will shake, so I will support you in a convenient way, or go directly to Juyong Pass to increase my guard. I also read the urgent memorial of the governor of Ji Liao Cao Bangfu: "The more than 30,000 cavalry of the Tatar Tubar tribe" has advanced along the river to Gubei." Ji Town is in urgent need."

Although Longqing was absent-minded about political affairs, the Emperor of Ming Dynasty guarded the national gates. Of course, he knew that Datong and Jizhen were the east and west gates of the capital. Now the east gate has been crossed. "The west gate is also dangerous and has become a double-team. Obviously, the Mongols have made great plans to come this time.

So, after Emperor Longyou ascended the end, the first stern imperial edict was born.

The proclamation official took an eunuch's eunuch and read it loudly: "The border generals feared the enemy and were cowardly in war, and the Ministry of War was numb, which led the captains to march straight into the capital, and they wanted to shake our imperial capital. They were very worried. How could the ministers be ashamed? Hearing the emperor's criticism, Xu Jie stood up from Jindun and led all officials to kowtow and apologize.

"What's the use of kowtowing?" Let's get up..." Longqing didn't know if he was angry or lacking in energy, and his voice trembled: "Hurry up and think of a countermeasure." Don't really wait for the troops to come to the city.

Xu Jie stood up with Jindun, "Respectfully comforting the emperor, "Your Majesty calms down. Although the shoe captives are coming in a turbulent manner, the court has done enough homework and will not repeat the "Gengshu Incident, the tragedy..." As he said, he looked at Yang Bo diagonally opposite and said, "Please ask the Ministry of War to tell the emperor..."

Although the situation was already very urgent, there was no panic on the face of Yang Bo, the Minister of War. He had seen too many storms in his life, and he could remain calm at any time." He then went out and said: "Cheer the Majesty" Since the old minister took over the defense of the capital last year, he has been trying to change the defense strategy of the capital, that is, from the original position of occupancy and ignorance of the capital city, to the focus of defense in the entire capital area. To achieve this goal, the Wei minister has continuously transferred the foreign guard flag army to the shift.

The capital trained and built a series of military facilities that echoed each other. Now the Beijing camp officers and soldiers have completed the mobilization, and the troops of the kings from all over the country have been in place one after another. A periphery defense system has been built. Although it is not invincible, before breaking through our peripheral military town, the Mongolians dare not be good at crossing the line and "being beautiful to the capital." After hearing Yang Bo's words, Long Qing was very calm," Long Yan said happily: "No wonder my father wanted to hand over the defense of the capital to the Grand Sima. "You are my Ming Dynasty's Dinghai Sword..."

After hearing the emperor's praise, Yang Bo smiled faintly and said, "But the construction of the defense of the capital is still short, and the funds are always short of funds, especially the lack of mobile forces, so......... it is still possible to defend Kyoto." But if you retreat to the enemy, you can do nothing." The old man is very self-aware. "He has less than a hundred cavalry under his command, and the rest are infantry. It is okay to use infantry against cavalry and defend the city, but field maneuvers are helpless, so he has long said ugly things ahead, so he will not be able to participate in the future, so he will not dare to fight in the future.

"The imperial court raised troops not just to guard the capital..." Gao Gong was displeased when he heard this and said, "If a hundred thousand troops dare not leave the city," he sat down and watched the people suffer misfortune, what's the point of that emperor guarding the country's gate?"

After saying this, Yang Bo blushed and snorted: "I don't want to protect the people, but I am not capable enough. In reality, what can I do? If Gaoge thinks who can do this, I'm willing to let the virtuous..."

"Don't argue..." Seeing that the two were about to fight, Xu Jie interrupted, "Please ask the Emperor to judge..."

“元翁……………”隆庆心说,我能裁得了什么呀?便望向徐阶道:“您意下如何?”,“老臣的意思是”先把京畿防御做好”立于不败之地……”徐阶沉声道:“再命王之诰,曹邦辅火速调集兵力,尽快将两路鞋虏驱逐出境……”

"Good strategy. Then let the cabinet coordinate..." Long Qing finally relaxed and said, "Your dear friends should also work together to do a good job in support." As soon as he relaxed, waves of tiredness came. The emperor said to himself, go back and make up for his sleep...

"Abide by the order...", all the officials took the order together.

In fact, the role of the Grand Court meeting is at most to mobilize and boost morale. Because there are too many people and talkative, it hardly involves any details. After the court is dispersed, the cabinet will hold a small meeting, which is the occasion for the real finalization of the strategy and the task.

In this cabinet meeting, in addition to the four cabinet masters and the nine ministers, there were also British Duke Zhang Rong, Dongning Hou Jiao Ying and other nobles in charge of the army, as well as the Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, the Chief of the Office of the Ministry of War, the Chief of the Department of War, the Chief of the Department of War, and other relevant officials attended the meeting, just filling the two rows of chairs in the main hall of Wenyuan Pavilion.

The confidentiality level of the meeting was the highest. Around the hall, in the yard, outside the gate, there were full of Jinyiwei guards standing with full vigilance. Even flies could not fly in. The meeting of this level was to solve the problem, so it would not be as concealed as the meeting. "Report good news but not bad news." So Xu Jie came up and set a tone and said: "The scale of Altan's invasion this time is rare in recent years, and the strategy has changed significantly. He no longer goes straight to the capital, but robbed everywhere in Shanxi, Tianjin and other places, and penetrated deep into our country. It is rare." Everyone here suddenly buzzed. "At the meeting just now, both shoes came to the capital." But now Mr. Xu said again, they didn't come, what was going on?

"Quiet..." Gao Gong coughed and said, "The cabinet said this, first of all, to calm people's hearts, secondly, to facilitate mobilization, there is no need to let everyone know the truth." This is actually not wasteful... Beijing City is the most solid city in the Ming Dynasty, with the most complete defense system and the most sufficient military supplies. In addition, the Mongols are not good at attacking the city, so when they hear them approaching Beijing, everyone is nervous, but they will not panic. And if they want to mobilize manpower and material resources to the greatest extent, there is no more effective reason than the attack in the capital.

"Everyone, so the focus of this meeting," Xu Jie said: "It is not the defense of the capital, but how to retreat the enemy..." He sighed and said: "Altan has slaughtered Shizhou City." Tuman also dyed the Mohe River water red..." His eyes swept over everyone present, making them feel their determination: "No matter what method is used, they must stop. This is the request of the cabinet!", "My attitude has not changed..." Yang Boxian said: "The capital is the head of the country, and it is related to the survival of the country. Therefore, it must be cautious." Do not act rashly..." He paused and said: "Besides, the Tartars came to plunder, and after they plundered, they naturally retreated without fighting. When our army was unable to respond, this is the strategic key to defending the enemy this time. If it cannot be changed, it will be dangerous..."

After hearing his words, Jiao Ying, the Hou of Dongning, said anxiously: "So, our Beijing Camp cannot attack..." Although he was in charge of the four guards of the Beijing Camp, the Ming Dynasty had to obey Yang Bo's command with his civil servants.

"This time, the sage captives were almost all dispatched. How many cavalry were there in the Beijing camp? They attacked rashly, but they were defeated but not defeated. Besides, all the marquis' subordinates were shouldering the important task of defending the capital. What if the sage captives were allowed to take advantage of the situation..." Yang Bo said lightly.

Seeing that he made up his mind, the tiger would not go out, Jiao Yingdun said: "It is related to the life and death of the people, can only ignore it..."

Yang Bo just sighed and ignored him. Jiao Ying had to stop talking and sat there in a depressed manner.

Seeing that military personnel were going to be a turtle, "Gao Gong slapped the table and said, "China is a towering China, but it is going to be humiliated again and again! The people used their own ointment and blood to raise their soldiers, and in the end the enemy invaded their homes." But the soldiers he raised turned a blind eye! What else did they say, the shoe captives attacked just to loot! They stood by and waited for them to plunder enough and retreated on their own..." As they said, the tiger's eyes burst into tears and said, "Why are the poor people always sacrificed by us!" Everyone was silent for a while, and they were ashamed by Gao Gong.

Yang Bo was furious, "Okay, Gao Suqing, I took the initiative to take the blame for your cabinet. It would be fine if you don't appreciate it, how could you still scold me?" He said sneered and said, "Then let's see what tricks Xin Zheng Gong has..."

"You must not sit still..." Gao Gong was an idea and said in a deep voice: "Since the arrival of the sect, the robbery of more than ten prefectures and counties in succession, must have achieved great success. Being dragged down by heavy losses, he has long lost his original speed." And his mentality will also change. We ordered our army to take the initiative to face the enemy and pursue him with his own tail. Even if the enemy cannot be eliminated, they will have to make them feel troubled. If the gain is not worth the loss, they will naturally feel like retreating..."

"Simple to put it..." Yang Bo said with a snorkeling: "The Mongols are not as short of horses as we do. They have special horses to carry things and specialized in war horses, which does not affect combat power at all..."

"I'm talking about speed" not combat power..." Gao Gong retorted: "Didn't you say all day long that people come and go like the wind, can't you catch up? Now that you can catch up, why are you talking about combat power again..."

"The officers and soldiers are short of food, shortage of wages, shortage of amounts..." Yang Bo said lightly: "More importantly, lack of field experience. If they are allowed to pursue, it is like sending sheep into the tiger's mouth. Who will bear the burden if they are defeated in a miserable way..." He paused and said: "Don't forget, this is in front of the emperor." This was a slightest statement to Xu Jie's heart, but he did not say anything because he expected that this would be criticized.

"Why is this argument so familiar...", Sure enough, Gao Gong's face turned pale: "It seems that Yan Song has said such things as well..."

"You..." The hall was silent, only Yang Bo yelled angrily and said, "I am like Yan Song, where did you place Yuan Weng again!"

"Hmph... Gao Gong stopped talking, but he must have another idea in his heart. "Don't argue again..." Xu Jie finally spoke out and persuaded him: "Rattle" from the court to the cabinet. Can quarrel solve the problem..." He said and sighed: "Heart and unity, and work together are the only way to do it."

"Right..., hey," Yang Bo nodded and stopped talking.

"Everyone, I'll say it again. "The cabinet has unified its opinions." Xu Jie said slowly: "No matter what method is used, the Mongolians must stop." He looked at it and said silently: "Can you have led troops to fight wars and dealt with the Mongolians. What do you think?"

"Yuan Weng" all the lords." Chen Si didn't want to speak, but was named by Xu Jie. He had to clear his throat and said, "I see that the Mongolians are strange this time. It is not just a simple looting, but there seems to be other plans."

"How do you say this?" Xu Jie asked, and everyone's attention was also focused on silent.

"I have done a statistical analysis of the Mongols' invasion since the Xuande period." "Silent words must have evidence, which is one of the reasons why his words are always convincing: "I found that this invasion was the deepest invasion of the Mongols invaded our country. As of yesterday, Altan's army alone had looted eleven prefectures and counties in succession, and also captured the city for the first time. This is very different from their previous invasion for the purpose of plundering." Then he explained: "If it is just for plundering property, then there is no need for them to invade so deeply." Even if they don't gain enough along the way, they should be completely satisfied after capturing Shizhou City and go home... "But they are now moving deeper with all our military and civilians." It is obvious that the drunkard's intention is not to drink..."..."......"

"What is that?" Guo Pu asked.

"Haha, how can you guess this randomly..." Chen Si smiled and said, "But I'm sure that in less than a few days, we will know their purpose."

Although he was silent, everyone present guessed from his analysis, but no one would say that day.

Xu Jie was very pleased that Chen Si could express his opinion like this. "It was only after he became the chief minister that he truly realized the difficulties of Ge Lao Yan back then. As the actual decision-maker of this country, every decision could push the country into the abyss and ruin himself. If anyone sitting in this seat might have to seek stability first. He is already under one person and above ten thousand people, first of all, he cannot make mistakes. It doesn't matter whether he makes contributions or not.

Although he was forced to represent the court and show a firm attitude, he really wanted to slow down in his heart, and then make a decision after seeing the situation clearly. So silence was equivalent to giving him a step forward, allowing Mr. Xu to defy the situation. While stepping up mobilizing food and grass and deploying troops, he ordered his subordinates to send scouts to closely monitor Altan's movements, and after the situation was clear, he would determine the next military action.

After all the tasks were assigned, Xu Jie finally breathed a sigh of relief. After the meeting, he left silent and talked alone with Zhang Juzheng.

In the room, the old chief assistant didn't have to pretend to be calm and said with a worried look on his face: "You guys, how will this end this time?"

"Jiangnan said it well..." Zhang Juzheng said: "I also think that Altan and the others are probably watching my new king ascend the throne and take the opportunity to put in a big siege." They try to coerce the emperor to sign the Chanyuan alliance and reopen border trade, "..."

Jie Shen agreed and said, "The Qing barbarians have longed to open the border for a long time." When they were in Jiangnan, they encountered similar situations. At that time, the court was under pressure and agreed to open the horse market in Xuanfu. However, they soon after, because of the forced purchase and sale of the soft son, they openly looted, and even killed the officials of our mutual market., As mentioned before, the Mongolian tribes had millions of people, but because of the characteristics of nomadic people, they could only grazed and squeezed sheep milk and could not produce daily necessities. They wanted to buy them with the Ming people? But the two sides were in a state of war. The Ming government did not allow the people to do business with them, so they could only rob them. So Mongolian cavalry rushed into the Central Plains again and again, and when they returned with a full load, you should look at it again. "The most on the horse's back is not gold, silver and treasures" but pots and pans.

Don’t laugh. If you don’t mobilize troops to rob, you won’t even have this thing. Don’t look at the Mongolians showing off their power every year, but they feel very frustrated. They always come out to rob for this thing. "High risks, no guarantees, and serious input and output are inconsistent. Forget it, it’s too unscrambled.

Who doesn’t want to be safe? So they have always been eager to “recover what they did fifty years ago” to open a market on the border, and get enough necessities for life without fighting and killing.
Chapter completed!