At the end of January, more than 20,000 troops from the Nine Camps and Three Routes arrived in Chuzhou Fucheng. The main army under Zhou Shixian will complete the last review before arriving on the battlefield here to boost morale, and then go directly north to Fengyang Mansion, across the Huaihe River

Station troops to counterattack.

Although Zhou Shixian cannot be said to have extraordinary military talent or long-term vision, the current historical development is far from being completely different. In a short period of time, he still understands the true strength and strategic intentions of the Qing army. Especially

There is also a huge intelligence system that continuously provides him with information to support his judgment.

The army completed its review, and Zhou Shixian also learned about the latest battle conditions on the front line. The Qing army was slightly slower than in history. Duduo only entered Xi'an at the end of January, but because he sent troops to capture the three prefectures of Juzhou-Ningling-Guide

, the Qing army shortened the rest time, and the final eastward advance was three days faster than originally planned in history.

Zhou Shixian was not surprised by this. After slightly adjusting his deployment, he immediately ordered the army to set off and continue heading north. Things are still in his plan.

Soon, the army arrived at Fengyang and Linhuai.

The Nanjing Water Camp's more than 2,000 naval divisions led by General Liu Tao have also been transferred to Lu Zhenfei's headquarters in Xuyi. On the one hand, it is to constrain Liu Zeqing, and on the other hand, it is also necessary to guard this key node to avoid being intercepted by the Qing army.

After breaking through, they were immediately taken back, and the morale of the army was in chaos.

On the current front line of the Huaihe River, Zhou Shixian spent half a month adjusting the deployment of various armies for the last time from early February to mid-February.

Gao Jie is still in Xuzhou and Henan, but he can retreat with a little resistance to buy time for the front line in the rear to consolidate. Zhou Shixian plans to depend on his performance. If he can still be used, he will take down the more than 5,000 soldiers under Gao Jie's command.

As a reserve force, it is still possible to attack the green camp and contain the flanks.

In addition, Liu Liangzuo's troops withdrew to the front line of Huoqiu and Shouzhou, relying on the Huaihe River and the Dabie Mountains to defend the western front. Ma Shiying's troops were also transferred to Shouzhou, which constrained Liu Zuoliang and also strengthened the defensive force in the west. Liu Zeqing

Then he gathered up his troops and returned to Huai'an City, south of the Huaihe River.

Huang Degong's troops remained as they were, stationed along the Huaihe River and at the rear of the western battlefield. Zhou Shixian waited until he knew the movements of the main force of the Qing army before making any adjustments. The more than 7,000 soldiers under his command were all under Lao Xue.

It is being practiced seriously under the eyes of the officers. It is a force that cannot be underestimated.

Such a deployment was naturally intended to lead Duduo's main force to Fengyang. If Duduo broke through from other places, things would be more troublesome. In other words, Zhou Shixian could only lead his own elite troops to confront the main force of the Qing army, and several other

Only a military leader has the power to fight.

After all, facing the real Manchu Eight Banners soldiers, these military leaders had very weak will to fight. Without Zhou Shixian as their leader, these people would not be able to fight even if their strength has increased.

Along with the deployment of the army, there were also people fleeing from the surrounding areas who Zhou Shixian sent from Jiangbei. With this huge manpower, he built strongholds around Fengyang, Linhuai, Shouzhou, Huoqiu, Xuyi, Huai'an and other important strongholds.

There are a large number of defenses, ranging from sheep and horse walls, horse guns, horse traps to antler trees and iron caltrops. Every city has a year's worth of military rations stored in it.

However, the final victory or defeat still depends on defeating the main force of the Qing army on the plains. Without the ability to fight in the field, it is impossible to defend no matter what kind of fortified city it is.

In the Governor's Mansion in Fengyang City, Xue Laoer, Zhang Huangyan, Zhang Hong, Sun Hu, Wu Xingye, Gao Jie, Liu Zeqing, Liu Liangzuo, Huang Degong, Ma Shiying, Lu Zhenfei, Zheng Chenggong and other military generals have been waiting for a long time, and there was silence in the conference room.

, the atmosphere is serious.

As Zhou Shixian, the Prince Consort of the Ming Dynasty and the Grand Marshal of the Army of the World, entered, a brand new mountain and river terrain map was spread out on the long table by Xue Laoer on the table in the conference room. The Huaihe River was tens of miles north and south, and most of the southern Zhili

The mountains, rivers, terrain, town passes, and main official roads are all clearly marked.

Zhou Shixian spent countless manpower and material resources, nearly 30,000 taels of silver, and sent people to draw it in more than half a year. From this, he also trained more than a dozen map surveyors.

In the conference room, Mr. Xue held a slender bamboo branch in his hand. After looking around at everyone, he pointed in the direction of Guide Mansion, north of the Huaihe River and west of Xuzhou Wei:

"Prince-in-law, generals, according to the intelligence detected by the Sentinel Cavalry, the Qing army has begun to take action and is expected to gather in the Guide area. The entire Henan and Shandong Green Camp troops, as well as nearly 20,000 troops from Tongguan, Shaanxi, have turned around.

Thousands of soldiers from the Eight Banners, including Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and others, will all gather in Guide. The total strength of the Qing army may be around 50,000.

At the same time, according to the news sent back from Zuo Liangyu, the rebels are very likely to break into Hubei, and the Qing army on the other side may continue to send troops to pursue it, so the Qing army currently rushing to Guide should not

If there are reinforcements, it will be a lonely army."

Limited by the transportation and technology of this era, Zhou Shixian only had time to draw topographic maps of the north and south of the Huaihe River. For other areas, the traditional abstract maps of the Ming Dynasty were still used. You can take a look, but they are of little help for large army operations.

"This battle is expected to officially start in half a month. The main force of the Qing army should take the lead in taking Juzhou, Ningling, and Guide, and then move south. Our army is now divided into three groups. To the west is General Liu Liangzuo.

Governor Ma Shiying, to the east are Lord Lu Zhenfei and General Liu Zeqing. In the middle are the Prince Consort personally leading the troops, assisted by Gao Jie, and the two generals Huang Degong and Zheng Chenggong are still on standby.

On the western battlefield, our army has about 4,000 armored soldiers and more than 3,000 logistics civilians; on the eastern battlefield, there are nearly 5,000 main force of marine and marine soldiers and nearly 5,000 logistics civilians. These two troops are responsible for containing the flanks of the Qing army and at the same time defending the Qing army.

outflank the army and support the main force in the center when necessary.

There are nearly 30,000 armored soldiers in the middle, which will be the core combat force of this war, and more than 23,000 logistical civilians. There are also 7,000 armored soldiers from General Huang Degong, 2,000 sailors from General Zheng Chenggong, and more than 10,000 civilian civilians from General Zheng Chenggong as reserves. A total of armored soldiers

There are more than 45,000 people, and more than 41,000 logistics workers.

Among the more than 45,000 troops, there are more than 36,000 field infantry, more than 12,000 muskets, more than 5,000 horsemen, complete with shields, armor, bows, crossbows, swords and guns, and nearly 90 land-mobile artillery pieces.

There are more than 40 tiger crouching cannons, ten four-pound cannons, more than 30 general cannons, and fifteen thousand-pound cannons. In the water camp, there are more than 300 large and small boats. Excluding sailors and handymen, all of them can fight.

There are more than three thousand soldiers.

The army is now fully prepared, and most of the troops of the three armies have entered their respective positions. They are currently deployed on the Huoqiu-Shouzhou, Fengyang-Linhuai, Xuyi-Huai'an lines."

After Zhou Shixian's investment, the various Ming armies in the southern Zhili region have undergone significant changes. At least in addition to his own troops, the more than 700,000 taels of silver and 10,000 armored soldiers sponsored by him half a year ago are all under his control.

Under personal supervision, it finally became something like this - all the armor and weapons were complete, and there were less deductions in military pay and food.

At least, these soldiers and horses are well fed and have the strength to train. They no longer look like beggars, nor are they skinny. They have no armor on their bodies and only hold a broken weapon.

Of course, Zhou Shixian still did not fully understand how much moisture there was in the 10,000 armored soldiers, but it should not be less than 8,000 capable soldiers. With such a large number of soldiers and horses, it is still possible to defeat a dozen green camp soldiers. Again

In addition to the previous headquarters troops of various military leaders, Zhou Shixian's current military strength was not much less than that of the Qing army.

"Um!"

Zhou Shixian nodded, very satisfied with the fact that all the battalions and units have entered the designated location according to the plan. The major military leaders finally dare not be arrogant now, but Zhou Shixian does not intend to let them go like this. After this battle, there will be rectification

At that time, he naturally wanted to take back the new recruits that his officers personally trained. He would not give away the money in vain, he was just borrowing soldiers for training.

"Keep going!"

"Yes, Prince Consort!"

Xue Laoer then pointed the bamboo branch at the location of Fengyang City and continued: "The Qing army has always despised our army. After Chief Duduo captured Shaanxi, he became even more arrogant. The army did not rest for long before they rushed straight towards us. It should be

They don't take us seriously at all. We expect that Duduo will directly attack Fengyang, where the main force of our army is located, in order to complete his victory in one battle and completely end the war in Jiangnan."

"What we want to take advantage of is his careless mentality of underestimating the enemy and catching him off guard."

Zhou Shixian raised his eyebrows slightly, then turned to look at Gao Jie, and continued: "Gao Jie, when you lead the troops and horses of your headquarters, you must pretend to be decent. Don't worry about losing the city and losing the land. Just run, take a detour to Huai'an, and then come back.

, but don’t let the Qing army take the opportunity to cross the river, otherwise they will be killed without mercy.

Wu Xingye, the cavalry battalion soldiers and horses you sent only need to guard the scouts in the north to gather information. When encountering a small group of enemy troops, they can reconnoiter the enemy's situation and eliminate them. However, once encountering a large number of enemies, be sure not to reveal their aggressiveness to avoid clearing the enemy.

I became suspicious and became more vigilant.

The rest of the tribes are not allowed to retreat without orders, let alone abandon the city and flee, otherwise I will definitely petition the Holy One to annihilate the nine tribes."

Although Zhou Shixian and the four towns in Jiangbei are said to have an army of 200,000, in fact, there are less than 30,000 who can actually fight bravely, of which 25,000 are Zhou Shixian's soldiers and horses. Those who can still fight are only more than 40,000.

, the rest are family members of the military and civilians who were held hostage. This is why the four towns in Jiangbei were so vulnerable in history.

However, the situation has changed now, but Duduo didn't know that Zhou Shixian wanted to take advantage of this, and then lured the enemy deep into the enemy's territory and surrounded them on three sides, in order to win with less and win more.
Chapter completed!