The war in the northwest burned to Ningxia's vanguards, central defenders and rear guards. For a moment, warnings came from both sides of the Yellow River.

However, because the Tatars were used as the main force of suspicious soldiers to advance westward, Liu Daxia basically encountered decent resistance along the way. Without bloodshed, the soldiers captured the fallen Yulin Fence City, Huaiyuan Fort, Qingping Fort, and surrounding Mizhi, Suidezhou and other counties.

However, there were devastated everywhere, and whether it was fortresses, fortresses or prefectures, the county towns were completely destroyed. The Tatars seemed to have no intention of occupying or governing them. They would rather destroy all the walls of these places so that they could come to plunder again in the future. At least the generals of the Ming border army thought so.

Little did they know that the Tatars were planning to build a prosperous capital of the Ming Dynasty. The troops had been launched at the same time in Zhangjiakou Fort and Xuanfu Town. It only took a time difference, which caught the Ming Dynasty off guard.

On September 28, Zhangjiakou Fort was in a panic attack on both sides of the Tatar army. On the same day, the Tatars launched another fierce attack on Xuanfu City.

Even if the two key passes could spread the news, the court would not have time to send more reinforcements to Xuanfu. The only one who could really reinforce Xuanfu and was quite combat-effective was actually the "50,000 troops" led by Chen Xi.

On September 29th, the war continued, and Tumu Fort, where the Chenxi army was located, had received letters from Xuanfu to the capital for help.

Chen Xi’s idea was that it was too late!

Even if the news reaches the capital, it will take about five days to send more reinforcements, even if it is a reply letter.

With the intensity of the Tatars' attack on Zhangjiakou Fort, the Ming army would never allow them to persist for another three days. Once Zhangjiakou Fort is lost, Xuanfu Town will surely fall within two or three days. By then, Chen Xi will directly face the Tatars' tens of thousands of soldiers.

In the afternoon of that day, Chen Xi rose to the tent to discuss matters.

At this time, Hu Songyue, Liu Xu and others could no longer sit still. The suggestion for Chen Xi was nothing more than to withdraw troops and return to Juyongguan and take advantage of Juyongguan to fight against the Tatars' invasion.

"...Sir, it is better to withdraw troops sooner than later. If Xuanfu falls, the main force of the Tartars will inevitably advance eastward. How can Tumu Fort stand at that time? Even if there are thousands of Tartar cavalry outside the city now, as long as we fight and retreat, we can always withdraw from Juyong Pass." Zhu Lie said with some presumption.

Yi Sima sent a number of cavalry to reinforce Tumu Fort one after another, which was about two thousand horses. These cavalry did not siege the city like Huo Ling. They all gathered in a camp on a high ground five miles away northwest. The defense strength may not be as good as Huo Ling at the time. Even Chen Xi sent people outside the city to transport water into the city without obstructing it. However, it also shows from one aspect that the military orders received by the troops were not to fight to the death with Chen Xi's troops, but to stop the troops in Tumu Fort and prevent Chen Xi from advancing west or withdrawing troops back to Juyong Pass.

Because no matter how you look at it, the five thousand infantry in Chen Xi's hands could not escape the two thousand Tatar cavalry.

If you can't fight, you can't escape, but you can't escape. The only thing Chenxi can rely on is the city block of Tumu Fort, so that you can deal with the Tatars.

But now it is undoubtedly true that we are waiting for death. Once Zhangjiakou Fort and Xuanfu are lost, the main Tatars will take the opportunity to advance eastward. At that time, what Tumu Fort would have to face was no longer just two thousand Tatar cavalry, but tens of thousands of elite cavalry, and even faced all the troops of the Tatar Khan tribe and Yisimain.

Now it's a question of whether to die early or late.

If it were someone else, they would definitely choose to withdraw their troops at this time, just like Hu Songyue and others. Although they realized that the more than 2,000 Tatar cavalry outside were very dangerous, they were reluctant to sit in Tumu Fort for their own lives and believed that they had to take the risk of withdrawing their troops.

In the vision of Hu Songyue and others, even if most of the troops were lost during the withdrawal process, they could always withdraw to Juyong Pass, so they could rest assured.

But Chen Xi doesn't think so.

Given the number of war horses in the army now, if you are determined to escape, it should be no problem for Chen Xi to return to Juyong Pass alive.

The key is that the court's reaction is too strange now... Chen Xi sent war reports several times to the capital to remind him, and even went to Datong Town and Taiyuan Town, hoping to get reinforcements from Liu Daxia and other troops. Who knew that all these war reports were sinking to the sea now, and the court seemed to have forgotten him. Even though he defeated Huo Ling at Tumu Fort, he could only watch Zhangjiakou Fort and Xuanfu ravaged by the Tatar Cavalry.

Under such circumstances, if Chen Xi withdraws troops back to Juyongguan, the court has a great chance of returning the responsibility for defeat to him, and Chen Xi's previous efforts will be squandered.

Chenxidao: "In my previous idea, the Tatars invaded Xuanfu Town, and we pretended to advance westward to attract the attention of the main Tatars, forcing them to divide their troops, and attract one of their troops to Juyong Pass."

"In this way, the Tatars would only think that our Ming court had seen through their conspiracy and had to turn to attack Zhangjiakou Fort quickly, and the Xuanfu was temporarily safe. At that time, reinforcements from the capital and the three sides could rush to the Xuanfu to assist the Xuanfu, and with the Xuanfu as the center, they would work with the Tatars."

"Even if Xuanfu is lost and our Ming Dynasty troops arrive together, we can guard many passes. The Tatars can only move on the front line of the Great Wall inside and outside, and cannot break through Juyong Pass, and Zijing Pass will threaten the capital."

"However, the reaction made by the court is far beyond our expectations. The court seems to have not paid attention to the battle plan of Chen in his official position. There is no news about the reinforcements of the capital. As for Liu Shangshu's troops on three sides, there is no news. Now it seems that it is likely that the Tatars' plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain, leaving only our troops and horses in the Great Wall inside and outside."

"Behind us is Juyongguan, and behind Juyongguan is the capital. If we withdraw troops at this time, more than half of the losses will be lost during the journey. After retreating to Juyongguan, the troops will not be enough to defend with danger. The main force of the Tatars' army advanced eastward, and the Tatars can provide food and grass and military supplies in Zhangjiakou and Xuanfu, and Juyongguan is in danger."

"We may attack at this time, but as long as the two thousand Tatar cavalry outside Tumu Fort do not fight us head-on, they mainly use harassment and guerrillas, and occasionally cavalry and shooting from afar, our army cannot be maintained for a long time. Once there is a flaw and let the Tatar cavalry take advantage of the situation, it will be annihilated."

"At present, our Ming Dynasty has completely fallen into a passive attack. It is better to guard Tumu Fort to win precious time for the court to send reinforcements to Juyongguan. At the same time, it can also give the court more time to prepare and lay the foundation for the final victory!"

Chen Xi has a clear attitude and cannot be removed!

If they retreat, they might be chased by two thousand Tatar cavalry on the way, and there would be a possibility of being wiped out all the troops. In this way, the troops would lose their meaning of existence and would not hinder the Tatars from advancing eastward. Even if they had a life to return to Juyongguan, the court would still blame Chen Xi and a group of generals for their defeat, completely ignoring the merits they won in the battle with Huo Ling in Tumu Fort.

Hu Songyue said anxiously: "Sir, what you mean is to let us, five thousand men and horses stay in Tumu Fort, and fight with them when tens of thousands of Tartar soldiers come. In the end, we will be loyal to the country?"

Chen Xi nodded: "That's true!"

"No!"

Not only did Hu Songyue not agree, but even the generals Zhang Yong shouted anxiously this time, "Mr. Shen, are you playing with fire! If I had known it was so dangerous, why would you have to send troops? Wouldn't it be great to stay in Juyongguan directly? Now, even if the Tatars catch up, they can fight, even if they can survive a few people to Juyongguan. The court is not unreasonable. It is enough to know that Lord Shen is dedicated to the country, so why would he even lose his life here?"

Liu Xu and others also hurriedly clasped their fists: "Yes, sir, please think twice!"

Unlike these people in the past who were facing Chen Xi, even if they think Chen Xi’s decision now is like waiting for death, they dare not openly violate Chen Xi’s military orders.

Hu Songyue and others were not stupid. They saw that Chen Xi was able to become a top civil servant like the governor of Yansui at a young age, not by luck or nepotism, but with real talent and knowledge.

Chen Xi's heroic figure of commanding on the battlefield and annihilated all 4,000 Tatar cavalry has long been engraved in these people's minds. At this time, they hope that Chen Xi would adopt their views or make better arrangements on their views. If they sing opposite to Chen Xi, it would be impossible to overcome their lives. If even a capable person like Chen Xi could not bring them back to Juyongguan safely, they would not have to think about relying on their own strength.

Chenxi Road: "Left behind Tumu Fort is not only to station troops in Juyongguan for the imperial court, increase the defense around the capital, but also to consider our own safety. Our army is mainly infantry, and the most threatening Fran cannon is heavy and slow. The Tatars only need to hold us back. I believe that in one day the army of Xuanfu will catch up with me and retreat, and then there will be a situation of death and life."

"Since we cannot fight the Tatars head-on in the field, we might as well stay in Tumu Fort, at least with city protection. Even if the Tatar soldiers are strong, it will take time to conquer Tumu Fort. We have artillery and muskets as barriers, and Tatars will suffer many casualties and injuries!"

Zhang Yongdao: "Mr. Shen, you are too optimistic. Let's not talk about the Tatars. We know that we don't have many soldiers in Tumu Fort, and we will only send a small number of soldiers to attack. The main force can still enter Juyongguan east, and we cannot stop it. Just say that the Tatars are coming like a tide. No matter how many people in the city are, there are only five thousand people. No matter how powerful the artillery is, there are only a few shells, and even fewer muskets and guns. The food and supplies in the city are extremely scarce. How can we have the power to fight the Tatars?"

Chen Xi nodded: "Eunuch Zhang's words make some sense."

"Since you know that it makes sense, then withdraw your troops quickly, or fight with the two thousand Tatar cavalry outside Tumu Fort before the Tatars destroyed Zhangjiakou Fort and Xuanfu. Since the adults can defeat the four thousand men and horses led by the ugly woman, these two thousand men and horses are naturally no problem."

"When we defeat him, our three armies will withdraw their troops to Juyongguan again and declare their merits, I will definitely ask for merits for Lord Shen and all the generals. Your Majesty and the court will be grateful for your kindness!" Zhang Yongdao.

Chen Xi narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhang Yong, asking, "Is there really a fight?"

"It's true to be a fight!" Zhang Yong nodded firmly.

Even Liu Xu and others said, "Sir, please give me an order. Tonight or tomorrow morning, I will fight against the Tatars outside the city!"

"Yes, fight!"

Several commanders and team leaders also began to clamor.

Chen Xi was very satisfied with the current uplift of the army, but was very worried about the things beyond the determination of these fanatical militants. Now the three armies were a little proud and complacent, thinking that since they could defeat Huo Ling's 4,000 troops, fighting two thousand cavalry now was like a joke.

But he did not know that the defeat of Huo Aya was because he had not yet established a stable foothold, had hasty responses, and had mistakes in his strategy, and did not play the characteristics of the Tatar cavalry's maneuver and flexible characteristics.

Now two thousand troops outside the city are united, with a united army and a sorrowful soldier. With the Tatars being prepared, Chen Xi took the initiative to launch an attack. Once the opponent does not take action, he chooses to retreat. When the Ming army makes every effort to attack, he will have to face the enemy's more fierce counterattack. The situation will be critical at that time. (To be continued.).
Chapter completed!