Prince Dorgon of Heshuorui, as the half-brother of the slave chief Huang Taiji, the fourteenth second character of the old slave Nurhachi, is only twenty-nine years old this year. He is the same age as Wu Sangui and only older than Zhang Cheng.
Four years old.
Dorgon was alert and decisive, and dared to do things. When he was young, he went on expeditions with the slave chief Huang Taiji. He successively participated in the expedition against the Mongolian Chahar tribe, North Korea, and invaded the mainland of the Ming Dynasty many times. He was very good at using troops and was deeply loved by Huang Taiji.
In the first year of Chongzhen, Dorgon accompanied the Chahar Mongolian Dorot tribe. Dorgon, who was only 17 years old at the time, made great contributions in the war and showed his extraordinary talents with both wisdom and courage. The slave chief Huang Taiji gave him
He was given the complimentary title of Mergendeqing, and even the title of Mergendeqin was called Mergendeqin Belle. Later, he was promoted to the title of king, and people also called him King Mergen.
In the eleventh year of Chongzhen, he and Beileyuetuo led the Qing army to cross the Qiangzi Ridge and the Qingshankou side wall, penetrate deep into the Ming Dynasty, fought with the Ming army in Julu, and killed Xuanda Governor Lu Xiangsheng and participating general Zhang Yan.
, defeated the Xuanfu Yang Guozhu, Shanxi Hu Dawei's Ming army, and then attacked Jinan and captured the Ming Dynasty clan King De.
In the spring of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, he and Yue Tuo led the plundered Qing army through the northern part of the Ming Dynasty and prepared to exit the Great Wall through Qingshan Pass. They were attacked by the Ming army one after another and suffered heavy losses. They were even killed by the unknown young general Zhang Cheng.
and Yue Tuo.
Thinking of Zhang Cheng, he couldn't help but recall that in the eleventh year of Chongzhen's reign, he was shot by a little thief at the foot of Dingzhou City in the Southern Dynasty. He vaguely remembered that he had only led more than a thousand troops at that time, but now he was the deputy commander-in-chief of the Southern Dynasty.
The cavalry under his command also seemed to be more capable.
"It seems that this child should not be underestimated. We should pay more attention to him and find opportunities to eradicate him as soon as possible to avoid becoming a scourge to the Qing Dynasty in the future!"
At this moment, Dorgon had just finished participating in the military meeting. He was very dissatisfied with today's results. Although the Ming army relied on its absolute superiority in numbers and the advantage of artillery, such battle losses were really unacceptable.
Even though Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu Army of the Southern Dynasties, was killed before the battle, two Gushan Ezhens were killed on their own side, and nearly 10,000 armored sergeants were killed.
If such a war happens again, he will have to retreat to Yizhou. At that time, the plan to encircle the brocade will completely fail. What will the great emperor in Shengjing do with him?
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Dorgon is such a person. He has great hidden ambitions, which is far beyond the comparison of other kings and Baylors among the slave thieves.
He was very obedient to the slave chief Huang Taiji. He knew Huang Taiji's methods. He was both fearful and loyal in his heart. He truly assisted his brother sincerely in opening up and expanding the territory of the Qing Dynasty.
When he was twenty-two years old, Huang Taiji once asked the ministers: "Now our country wants to conquer North Korea, conquer the Ming Dynasty, and pacify Chahar. Of these three major things, which one should you do first?"
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Dorgon replied without hesitation: "King Han, in my opinion, it is best to conquer the Ming Kingdom first. Sooner or later, we will follow King Han into the pass and restore the glory of the Jin Dynasty. This is the fundamental plan."
Huang Taiji smiled and asked him: "How can we conquer the Ming Dynasty?"
He replied confidently: "First of all, we should organize our troops and horses, and attack the capital of the Ming Dynasty in a detour when the grain is ripe, surround its city, intercept its reinforcements, destroy its forts, and plunder its people.
Wealth, silk, grain.
In this way, even if we cannot conquer the Ming Kingdom immediately, we can still waste a lot of its national strength to strengthen our strength so that we can conquer the Ming Kingdom in one fell swoop in the future and restore the former glory of the Great Jin Kingdom."
Dorgon's suggestions were appreciated and adopted by Huang Taiji. After that, he made many detours and attacked various parts of the Ming Dynasty, often plundering a large amount of food, grain, and wealth, thus strengthening the strength of the Qing Dynasty.
Just like this time, he was ordered to preside over the overall situation of the war between Song and Jin, and he wanted to single-handedly defeat Hong Chengchou's army to aid Jin, seize the strategic location in Liaodong, and clear the way for him to break through the Shanhaiguan defense line and advance into the Central Plains.
If he single-handedly commanded the troops and established this immortal feat, his prestige within the Qing Dynasty would be greatly increased, and maybe there would be a chance...
But the cruelty of reality ruthlessly shattered his dream. He never expected that the Ming Dynasty would mobilize nearly 200,000 troops to aid the Jin Dynasty, nor did he expect that Hong Chengchou would launch such a large-scale attack as soon as he arrived at Songshan.
Now, we can only wait for the decision of Huang Taiji, the slave chief in Shengjing City. If he only sends troops to reinforce, he, Dorgon, will still have a chance to make meritorious deeds. If Huang Taiji comes in person, he can only be a foil!
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Today, he fought with the Ming army for most of the day at West Shimen, and repulsed Zu Dashou's troops in the south of Jinzhou City. Immediately after withdrawing the troops, there was a military meeting. He did feel sleepy.
During the military meeting just now, we mentioned today's battle losses. The generals of the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia, the Han Army, the Mongolian Mongols, the Tianyou Army, the Tianyou Army, and the Korean Army were all a little depressed, and they no longer had the same enthusiasm as before.
After all, today's battle with the Ming army was too brutal, and all generals suffered more or less casualties. For example, Kong Youde, the god-blessed army in Gushan'e, was knocked off his horse by Yang Guozhu and was seriously injured.
Dorgon ordered the Goshiha guards around him to invite Prince Su Hauge to come to discuss matters, and told him not to meet other people unless there was urgent military affairs.
Although Hauge is Dorgon's nephew, he is only two years younger than Dorgon.
However, although he was the eldest son of Emperor Huang Taiji of the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu system at this time did not respect the theory of "establishing an heir by direct line, and without direct line of descent" as the Han people did.
It is still completely uncertain who will succeed the emperor after Huang Taiji's death. Therefore, Hauge does not have the status of crown prince in front of Dorgon, but can only speak as his nephew and deputy.
Although he was deeply jealous and dissatisfied with Dorgon in his heart, he always behaved very respectfully on the surface and listened to Dorgon's opinions in everything.
There were only two princes, Dorgon and Hauge, in the military tent. He stopped making excuses and said straight to the point: "In today's battle, although the attack of the governor of the Southern Dynasties was repelled, and Zu Dashou was also repulsed from the city, our side
The damage was also extremely serious.
In just one day, two Gushans were destroyed, King Gongshun was wounded on the battlefield, and our warriors suffered more than ten thousand casualties. If the governor of the Southern Dynasty leads his army to attack again, it will be extremely dangerous and dangerous, and it may be difficult to encircle Jinzhou again!"
Seeing that Hauge didn't say anything, Dorgon continued: "Judging from today's battlefield, the morale of the Southern Army is indeed higher than in the past, and they seem to be fighting seriously.
Those generals in the Southern Dynasties, when they met our warriors in the past, sometimes they were defeated as soon as they engaged in battle, and sometimes they fled before they could engage in battle, and they always avoided fighting. But this time it was different, they seemed to be able to withstand it.
Let our warriors fight hard.
Hauge, do you think so?"
Hauge did not reply directly, but took out an extremely exquisite tobacco pouch. It was a pipe pot made of white copper, with an ebony rod, a jade pipe mouthpiece, and a satin pouch next to it.
Seeing this, the old Baoyi Luotuo who was waiting on the side quickly came forward with a candle and waited for him to put the cigarette and light it. Then he took out an exquisite dry tobacco bag, which was also made of white copper as the pot, ebony as the rod, and jade as the mouth.
, waiting for Dorgon to pack the cigarette and light it.
Dorgon and Hauge, just like those kings of the Qing Dynasty and Baylor, loved to smoke this dry tobacco on weekdays. They smoked it one mouthful at a time, and the gray smoke instantly floated into the felt tent.
Accompanied by the strong smell of tobacco, Hauge said: "What the uncle said is that today I personally visited the battle formation at Dongshimen, and I also felt that the Ming army this time is indeed not comparable to the past."
"What do you think the Governor of the Southern Dynasties will do next?"
"I haven't seen it clearly yet. Uncle Prince, what do you think?"
Dorgon took a puff from his pipe and then said: "In my opinion, no matter what the governor of the Southern Dynasties does next, it will be difficult to resist based on our current military strength.
After today's battle, our army suffered heavy losses, and our troops and horses were already stretched thin. In order to keep the plan of encirclement and brocade intact, we had to shrink our troops and horses, abandoning Rufeng Mountain, Songshan Ridge and other places, and only holding on to important places such as Shimen Mountain and Huangtu Ridge.
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Nowadays, Rufeng Mountain, Dajia Mountain, Songshan Ridge, etc. on the Songling Mountains are all occupied by the Confederate Army. If the Confederate Army relies on the favorable terrain and does not advance towards Jinzhou for the time being, it will only try to open up the grain transportation road by the sea and pass through the small road from the sea.
The line of Linghe River donated grain to Zu Dashou in Jinzhou City.
In this way, Jinzhou's defense will become stronger, and the Southern Army camps in the Songshan area will also be consolidated. At that time, we will be attacked from both sides, and the situation will be even more unfavorable, and it will be difficult to sustain for a long time."
At this point, Dorgon looked at Hauge. He saw that Hauge was just listening carefully and had no intention of interjecting, so he continued: "Now, our army has been encircling the Jin Dynasty for more than a year, and its morale is not as good as before, and it is even worse.
The fighting is fierce today and morale is getting lower and lower.
Our army is in dire straits of food and grain, and most of it comes from North Korea. Now that there is a drought in North Korea, I heard that North Korea's Li Jian kept complaining and begging for relief from the food levy. And the Uiju area is also suffering from drought and freezing, and the output is insufficient. The war in Jinzhou must not last long.
Undecided.
For the current plan, we can only report the true situation here to Your Majesty and ask for more troops, so that we can fight hard against the Southern Army or have a difficult stalemate."
Hauge clicked his pipe and asked, "Do you mean to ask for help from Shengjing?"
Dorgon took a big mouthful of his pipe and stopped talking. Seeing this, Hauge also took a deep puff and said: "Our army wants to encircle Jinzhou and prevent the governor of the Southern Dynasties from assisting in relieving the siege of Jinzhou. However, the existing troops are insufficient."
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"Dang Dang Dang..."
Dorgon banged the white copper cigarette pot he had just finished smoking against a copper spittoon a few times, knocked out the embers in the pot, and said: "That's it. Our army now wants to defend the ancestors in Jinzhou City internally."
Dashou suddenly came out, and he had to defend himself from the sudden attack of the governor of the Southern Dynasty. He wanted to join forces with Zu Dashou inside and outside to break the Jin siege, but the existing army of soldiers and horses was not enough.
Fortunately, the various camps of our army have been in operation for a long time and are very strong. There are trenches outside each camp. Even if the Confederate army attacks fiercely, we can hold on for several days. As long as your Majesty sends another army to support us, we will not win immediately.
At least we can maintain a stalemate with the Confederate Army."
Hauge thought for a while, nodded with a smile and said: "My uncle is right. In this case, I think we can only hold on and send people back to Shengjing quickly to ask your Majesty to send troops for reinforcements."
"This is the best idea for now. If two to thirty thousand Qing warriors come to reinforce us, our army will have no worries if we stick to the fence, and we may even be able to defeat the Southern Army."
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After he sent the military report and the letter asking for help to Shengjing, he understood that Huang Taiji would most likely come to the Songjin front line in person to direct the operations, and a very secret worry suddenly arose in his heart.
He originally wanted to lie down and sleep for a while to relieve his fatigue, but because of the worries that he couldn't express to others, he couldn't sleep at all.
Sitting alone in the military tent, Dorgon couldn't help but recall the punishment he received last year. Although he appeared to be convinced on the surface, he still felt endless grievances in his heart.
At that time, he and Prince Heshuo Su led an army to besiege Jinzhou. However, the city of Jinzhou was still firmly defended. The Qing army could not attack, and the Ming army was unable to attack. For a while, it became a stalemate and delaying situation.
After Dorgon discussed with the kings and Baylors, he and Hauge finally made the decision to move the main force of the army back thirty miles north of Jinzhou City, to garrison near Yizhou.
At the same time, he also ordered each banner to be led by a member of Jia La Zhangjing, and five armored soldiers were selected from each Niulu to take turns to return to Shengjing to visit the family and prepare clothing and armor.
When Huang Taiji heard about this, he was furious. He immediately sent Prince Heshuo Zheng Jierhalang to the Songjin front to replace Dorgon.
He also sent an edict to severely rebuke him, asking: "I originally ordered you to advance step by step from a distance to Jinzhou City, dig trenches and surround Jinzhou to death. Now you do not obey my order, but instead camp far away from Jinzhou. In this way, the Ming army
We will definitely transport more grain and grass into the city, when will we be able to capture Jinzhou?"
At that time, Dorgon asked the emissary to reply to Huang Taiji on his behalf: "In the place where we were originally stationed, there was no vegetation. It was my initiative to move the camp back in order to have grass for horses and mules, and wood for fuel. The crime of this minister is real."
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Your Majesty, please punish me!"
After Huang Taiji got the reply, he sent someone to tell him: "I love you far more than any other disciple, and your rewards are especially generous. Now, you have disobeyed me like this. In your opinion, how should I punish you?"
"
Dorgon was frightened and immediately replied that what he had committed was a capital crime!
After all, Huang Taiji couldn't bear it anymore, so he sent a decree to demote Dorgon and Hauge from princes to county kings, fined them each 10,000 taels of silver, and also took away two Niulu people from Zhengbai Banner where Dorgon was.
Dorgon still felt very scared when he recalled this incident tonight.
He couldn't help but guess: In today's battle, two Gushan Ezhen soldiers were lost, and nearly ten thousand armored soldiers were killed or injured. Although Yang Guozhu, the general of the Southern Dynasty's army, was killed, he didn't know what kind of punishment he would receive for such a loss of soldiers and generals!
The more I thought about it, the more frightened I became.
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"Do you still have the sweet wine that North Korea sent as tribute?"
When the old man Bao Tuo heard Dorgon asking for a drink, he hurriedly accompanied him and carefully replied: "My lord, have you forgotten? In a few days it will be the death anniversary of the concubine. Although it has been fifteen years, but
During these days and days, you never touch wine."
When Dorgon heard this, his heart moved and he said: "These days the military has been complicated. If you don't mention it, I really forgot about it. Don't bring the wine, Luo Tuo!"
Seeing that Dorgon's face was a little gloomy, Luotuo hurriedly tried to persuade him: "Your Majesty was only fourteen years old at that time. He has made a lot of contributions to our Qing Dynasty in the past fifteen years. Dafu Jin will be very happy in heaven, and it is not in vain."
The festival of sacrifice and burial.
My lord, these years go by so fast!"
Dorgon was in a slightly depressed mood and said: "Luo Tuo, you are not old yet, how can you become as verbose as an old man!"
Seeing this, Luotuo did not dare to speak anymore, and hurriedly turned around and left to rush for the food. Only Dorgon was left in the felt tent, waiting for the food to be served.