The Ming Dynasty fought against the Northern Yuan: Xu Da's wisdom to control the enemy, strategic transfer and political power issues.
At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the Mongol forces in the north made an effort to move south in an attempt to recapture the lost Central Plains. Wang Baobao of the Northern Yuan regime was feared by the Ming Dynasty for his bravery and good fighting. In the winter of 1369, Wang Baobao led a huge cavalry south, targeting Lanzhou in an attempt to threaten the Guanzhong region. Xu Da, the first general of the Ming Dynasty, stepped forward and led the army to resist Wang Baobao's attack. This north-south duel has become a thrilling battle in history.
The ambition of the Northern Yuan regime to go south.
In the early days of the Yuan Dynasty's defeat and retreat to the northern Mongolian steppe, the Northern Yuan regime was not willing to lose the prosperity of the Central Plains. At this time, the Northern Yuan regime was still strong, and the Mongol nobles launched a series of counterattacks. Wang Baobao, the most courageous and warlike general in the Northern Yuan regime, became their light of hope. Wang Baobao led a huge cavalry southward in an attempt to occupy Lanzhou and threaten the security of the Guanzhong region. This military decisive battle became a huge test for the Ming Dynasty by the Northern Yuan regime.
Xu Da skillfully coped: surround but not fight, outwit to win.
Xu Da, the first general of the Ming Dynasty, won Zhu Yuanzhang's attention. In the face of Wang Baobao's southward advance, he adopted a clever and restrained strategy. First of all, Xu Da led a large army to Lanzhou for reinforcements, but did not rush to confront Wang Baobao head-on. On the contrary, he used tactical dexterity to attack and harass, weakening the strength of Wang Baobao's army. This strategy may have been inspired by other military geniuses throughout history, such as Zhuge Liang in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
In a series of skirmishes, Xu Da flexibly used his forces to constantly hit Wang Baobao's military morale. Xu Da knew that it would be an uphill battle to face the huge Mongol cavalry, so he chose to achieve the greatest success at the minimum cost. His attack exhausted Wang Baobao's army and created favorable conditions for the subsequent decisive battle.
On the occasion of the decisive battle: Xu Da won by surprise.
With the continuous raids, the Northern Yuan army gradually became exhausted, while the Ming army remained on high alert. This provided an opportunity for Xu Da to win by surprise in the decisive battle. The Ming army attacked on all fronts, captured the senior ** of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, captured a large number of officers and soldiers, and captured tens of thousands of war horses. However, despite the brilliant results, Wang Baobao escaped and continued south. He crossed the Yellow River with great difficulty and eventually fled to the Helin region of Ningxia.
Analysis of the War Situation: The Problem of Regime and the Institutional Dilemma of the Ming Dynasty.
This Great War of the North and South left a deep mark on history. First of all, although the Northern Yuan regime had a strong military in the early Ming Dynasty, it failed to achieve a large-scale offensive in the northwest direction. After the war, the Northern Yuan regime took the initiative to shift its strategic direction to due north and northeast, marking a reduction in pressure on the Ming Dynasty.
However, institutional problems in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty became apparent. Despite being able to confront and win head-on with the massive Mongol army in the early days, over time the Ming dynasty fell into disarray as it dealt with tens of thousands of Mongol troops. This may be related to the problems that arose in the middle and late Ming Dynasty system. Institutional flaws in all aspects made it difficult for the Ming Dynasty to effectively organize, command, and respond to complex and volatile war situations.
Conclusion: Xu Da's resourcefulness and the institutional dilemma of the Ming Dynasty.
Xu Da showed great resourcefulness in this war, and through clever tactics and flexible strategy, he successfully resisted the powerful Northern Yuan army. However, the war also highlighted the institutional dilemma of the Ming dynasty in the middle and late periods, especially in the face of tens of thousands of Mongol troops. In the long course of history, every war is a comprehensive embodiment of politics, military and culture, and this Great War was no exception.