Huang Taiji was originally scheduled to leave for the front line of Jinzhou on August 11 to command the army to fight against Hong Chengchou. However, on the eve of his departure, he suddenly became "disobedient". The specific manifestations were nosebleeds that would not stop and dizziness.
Dizziness and weakness all over.
In fact, this was Huang Taiji's old problem. Since there were mostly military men in the court, he also hired Han ministers such as Fan Wencheng and Ning Wanwo, but they only served as secretaries of the inner court or officials in various yamen, and they still failed to enter the real realm.
Therefore, Huang Taiji had to do everything personally, and eventually became ill from overwork.
In addition to the hard work of the government and the military, the constant excessiveness is also a big inducement. In his life, he had a total of fifteen favored concubines and gave birth to twenty-five children. Even after suffering from epistaxis, he did not stop favoring the favored concubines in the harem.
, it can be seen that there are reasons for the deterioration of the body.
Now, as he was about to go on an expedition, he suffered from epistaxis again. The concubines in the harem and the princes and ministers of the dynasty all prayed to gods and made wishes for him. The shamans also danced and recited mantras and prayed every day, but nothing happened.
Effect.
Even Huang Taiji himself asked the imperial doctor for diagnosis and treatment, and took several herbal prescriptions, but the bleeding still continued. He was so anxious that Prince Zheng Jierharang urged the North Korean government to quickly send famous doctors to join in the diagnosis and treatment, and asked the North Korean government to
First provide the Bamboo Leaking Recipe.
Originally, August 11th was a specially selected auspicious day for the expedition, but in Huang Taiji's current condition, how could he withstand the fatigue of his saddle and horse, so he had to order the army to go ahead, while Huang Taiji temporarily planned to recuperate for three days before setting off.
?But on the fourteenth day, Huang Taiji's epistaxis had not improved, and he was still bleeding. With the persuasion of the kings, Baylor and the ministers, the plan was postponed for another day.
Even on the 15th, Huang Taiji's situation had not improved. However, the military situation on the Jinzhou front line was extremely urgent, and he could no longer postpone his departure date.
After all, in this Jinzhou war, in addition to the 30,000 elite reinforcements in Shengjing, he also recruited all men over the age of fifteen in the country to go to war. Now it can be said that there are troops and horses from all over the Qing Dynasty gathering towards Jinzhou.
This battle truly became the battle of national destiny between the Ming and Qing Dynasties!
…………
On this day of Chen Pai, Huang Taiji took the kings, Baylor, and ministers who accompanied the expedition out of the Fujin Gate east of Shengjingcheng. They knelt three times and kowtowed nine times amidst the sound of trumpets, and then led three thousand personal guards.
The Yala guard army was ready to set off and march towards the Jinzhou front line.?
??In addition to the Manchu and Mongolian kings, Baylor, Manchu and Han ministers, doctors and shamans, he also brought with him Li??, the crown prince of the Korean king, and a group of Korean ministers and slaves.
The Crown Prince of Joseon and his court officials were detained in Shengjing as hostages. Every time Huang Taiji held a large-scale hunting event or there was a major war, he would order the Crown Prince of Joseon and others to accompany him to show them the power of the Qing Dynasty and to train them.
The thought of being pro-Qing, hoping to completely overwhelm the future king of North Korea.?
This time, Huang Taiji went to have a strategic decisive battle with the Ming army, and he wanted to take them with him. He was full of confidence in this battle, so how could he let go of this opportunity to show his prowess to the future King of Korea Li?? and his surrounding ministers.
Opportunities for martial arts.?
In addition, Huang Taiji's most favored concubine Hai Lanzhu of Guanju Palace was also specially allowed to leave the palace. She was the only concubine who came out of the palace to see him off. She sent him to the horse and walked a long way before he turned the horse's head with tears in his eyes and stood before the maids and guards.
Surrounded by others, he returned to Shengjing City.?
However, Huang Taiji's epistaxis has not improved yet. His nose is still bleeding, but it is always slightly better than the previous few days.
But the military situation was urgent and could no longer be delayed. Huang Taiji rode his horse galloping and when his nosebleed came, he would use a bowl on the horse to catch the nosebleed while running. Although this was difficult, it did not affect the march. The nosebleed continued intermittently for three days before the blood flowed.
Is there a pause?
Until this time, as his energy began to recover, Huang Taiji's mood became happy. In order to rush to the Jinzhou front line as soon as possible, they traveled all the way and stayed overnight.
In the evening of that day, the kings, Baylor, and ministers went to Huang Taiji's royal tent as usual to greet him. They also watched the shaman dance for Huang Taiji and recite mantras to pray for health.
Then, everyone went into the imperial tent and sat down in groups to discuss military and state affairs. The main content was the attack strategy against the Songshan Ming army.
Huang Taiji's spirit recovered and he appeared to be full of energy. He first smiled and said: "I'm just afraid that the Ming army will quietly retreat from the pine and brocade area after hearing that I have personally visited the Jinzhou front line."
If, with God's blessing, the Ming army does not flee, I will definitely be able to lead you and others to a great victory over the Ming army. You will be like loose hounds chasing the fleeing beasts, chasing after them with great speed, and hunting down many prey.?
Although the Ming army saw many people and strong horses, they did not fight hard. Besides, it is not easy to mobilize an army of hundreds of thousands. As long as you find a loophole, victory will be easy. I will not make you wait and suffer more.
However, this time we are fighting against the Ming army under Jinzhou City, you must not violate my emperor’s orders, do not miss the military, and remember it carefully!”??
Dorobele Dodo, who was accompanying him, reported to him: "Your Majesty, please go slowly and let me rush to the Jinzhou camp first to help Prince Rui fight against the Ming army."
??Huang Taiji shook his head and said: "The purpose of marching and fighting is to defeat the enemy. The faster, the better. If I had wings and could fly, I would want to fly over directly. Why do you want me to walk slowly!"
"??
After Huang Taiji's epistaxis was slightly relieved, he accelerated his march and advanced every day.
Finally at dusk on August 19, Huang Taiji and his party arrived at Wolong Mountain to the east of Songshan. This mountain is less than a hundred feet high and is located in the southeast of Jinzhou City, facing Songshan Fort to the west across the Xiaoling River.
He planned to rest for the night at Wolong Mountain and then cross the Xiaoling River tomorrow to go to the southern front line of Jinzhou City to observe the Ming army's formation with Prince Rui Dorgon and others.
After making the decision, he sent the inner academy scholar Gang Lin and the bachelor Luo Shuo to meet Dorgon and Hauge to convey his instructions: "I will be arriving soon. You must restrain the warriors and strengthen the defenses everywhere.
, I will make a decision only after I observe the Ming army’s infantry formation tomorrow!”
So Gang Lin and others set off on horseback overnight and headed for the Qing army camp in Jinnan.?
?When the kings, Baylor, ministers and soldiers who besieged Jinzhou heard that King Laohan was coming, their courage suddenly increased, and there was cheering everywhere.?
…………
In the early morning of August 20th, Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao in the Ming Dynasty, did not know that Huang Taiji had arrived at the Songjin front line. Although he had been directing the Ming army to attack northward for several days, he intended to meet Zu Dashou in Jinzhou City.
However, the Qing army relied on its strong fortresses and deep trenches to defend the city, as well as its large number of artillery. The Ming army attacked several times, and Zu Dashou in the city also went out of the city many times to attack, but they were still unable to break through the Qing army's defense line.
After the previous war, the Qing army suffered heavy casualties. In order to prevent the Ming army from splitting up and attacking again, they voluntarily abandoned some hilltop positions and concentrated their forces to besiege the trench defense lines in the south and west of Jinzhou. They only steadily controlled Shimen Mountain and
Huangtu Ridge and several other highlands.
The Ming army took the opportunity to seize and garrison several mountainous highlands such as Rufeng Mountain, Songshan Ridge, and Maojiagou. The mountains and hills were occupied by artillery battalions of various armies, while the foothills were occupied by infantry barracks, and the cavalry formed formations on the hillsides.
At the same time, Mamatou Mountain in the southeast of Songshan Castle and the coastal area at the mouth of Xiaoling River were also completely occupied by the Ming army, and they became places where military supplies were provided through the sea.
Hong Chengchou sent Shanxi General Li Fuming to garrison here to protect the safety of the grain road. Li Fuming suffered heavy losses in the previous war and had only less than 3,000 Biaoying soldiers left under his command.
Due to the heavy responsibility of guarding the grain road, Hong Chengchou also assigned the troops and horses of Wang Jiaqi, a general in Xingshan, to Li Fuming to strengthen the defense of the Xiaolinghe grain station.
Even so, the number of troops was less than 5,000, which was still a little weak. The day before yesterday, Hong Chengchou also sent Yang Guozhu's subordinates to attack Kuang Yongzhong. Tang Xiancheng, the commander-in-chief, transferred them to Mamatou Mountain and Xiaolinghekou for garrison, and temporarily placed them under Li Fuming's control.
It turned out that after the previous war, Li Fuming's troops suffered the heaviest losses. In order to enhance his own strength, he took a fancy to the Xuanzang troops and horses left by Yang Guozhu, spent all the money he had with him, and finally got the acquiescence of all parties.
But he forgot one of the most important things, which was whether Xuanzhen general Guo Yingxian and guerrillas He Zhenxiong, Kuang Yongzhong and others were willing to be controlled by him, and whether the Xuanzhen soldiers were willing to be commanded by him. He completely ignored the parties involved.
Views.
In Li Fuming's heart, as long as Governor Hong Chengchou, Commander-in-Chief Zhang Ruoqi and others agree, and as long as big bosses like them are willing to support him, how can those little generals and soldiers in Xuanzang do anything?
But he ignored one person. He seemed to have selectively forgotten that there was Zhang Cheng, deputy commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen in Songshan and commander-in-chief of the Ming Dynasty's aid and suppression campaign.
Zhang Cheng was also unambiguous. He went directly to Zhang Ruoqi. In addition to sending some gifts, he also promised to give him 10% of the profits from selling Yunzhou cigarettes in the capital every year to support the princes in the court.
cost.
This is not a small amount of money, and it is a steady flow of income every year, which no one will remain indifferent to.
What's more, Zhang Cheng also made it clear that allowing him to control the Xuanzhen troops and horses left by Yang Guozhu was equivalent to the troops and horses of his own soldier Chen Xinjia, and it was also equivalent to the troops and horses of Zhang Ruoqi, his general general. Only in this way could he be able to achieve military success in Liaodong.
Have more say.
In addition, General Guo Yingxian also led the generals of Xuanzhen to the governor's headquarters and petitioned personally to the governor of Jiliao Hong Chengchou, the commander-in-chief of the army Zhang Ruoqi, the governor of Liaodong Qiu Minyang and other officials.
They had the greatest military exploits in the previous war and suffered the most casualties. Even the commander-in-chief, General Zhenshuo, and the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, Yang Guozhu, sacrificed their lives for the country. Now they have made the matter clear, stating that the officers and soldiers of Xuanzhen are grateful for the timely rescue of the Xuanbei Army.
They all expressed their willingness to accept the control of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhang Cheng, fight fiercely against the Tartars, and avenge Yang Zhenshuai.
After such an operation, the matter of who should control the troops and horses in Xuanzhen became complicated. Logically speaking, Yang Guozhu could indeed control Zhang Cheng's Xuanbei Army at that time. After all, Zhang Cheng's actual job was still in the Xuanfu
Town deputy commander.
Based on this reasoning, now that Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu Town, has sacrificed his life for the country, Zhang Cheng is naturally the most respected general among the generals who came to Xuanzhen to help him. After all, he is a genuine commander-in-chief of Wandu, and the deputy commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen branch.
It is natural that he should succeed Yang Guozhu and control the troops in Xuanzang.
In fact, Hong Chengchou did not want to hand over the troops and horses to support the Liao Dynasty in Xuanzang under the control of Zhang Cheng. Based on the intelligence he had, it showed that although Zhang Cheng's troops were very powerful, he was actually Chen Xinjia's own soldier.
The Liaodong Frontline had many private contacts with Zhang Ruoqi.
Hong Chengchou was very worried. Zhang Cheng had nearly 20,000 troops and horses assisting Liao and Xuebei, and the troops were fully equipped with armor, chariots and cannons. They were also well-drilled and had high morale.
Now if the nearly 10,000 soldiers and horses of Xuanzang Town left by Yang Guozhu were brought under Zhang Cheng's control, then he could command 30,000 troops. Hong Chengchou was afraid that Zhang Cheng would become arrogant because of his strong soldiers and horses, and collude with Zhang Ruoqi. Not only would it be difficult to lead
When commanding, I am even more afraid of becoming my own constraint.
However, after this incident, even the officers and soldiers of the Xuanbei Army were dissatisfied. In addition, the commander-in-chief Zhang Ruoqi changed his attitude and strongly opposed the distribution of troops and horses in Xuanzhen to other generals. However, Hong Chengchou had to consider his opinion.
Although Zhang Ruoqi may not be able to play a decisive role, as the commander-in-chief of the army sent by the emperor and the court, if this matter is not handled well and the Liao Dynasty is unfavorable in the future, Zhang Ruoqi may go to court to impeach him, because the division of soldiers and horses in Xuanzang Town will damage morale.
Being depressed led to the collapse of the Liao Dynasty.
Moreover, generals such as Chen Jiugao, the former battalion commander of the Shenji Battalion, and Wang Pu, the Datong commander, also supported Zhang Cheng in controlling the Xuanzhen troops. Seeing what had happened, even Ningyuan Commander Wu Sangui publicly expressed his support for Zhang Cheng's control of the Xuanzang troops.
horse.
Wu Sangui only focused on Yang Guozhu's retainers and the cavalry of the Supervisor Biao Battalion. He did not like the remaining three battalions of infantry, but cavalry training is not easy and is indeed rare.
However, seeing the current situation, he knew that it would be extremely difficult for outsiders to annex the Xuanzhen Cavalry, and Zhang Cheng would never let go, so he made such a smooth favor.
But one thing is very strange. So many people come out to cause trouble, but Zhang Cheng, who is the core figure of the matter, is bored in his own camp. He doesn't see anyone and doesn't come out to talk.
Hong Chengchou said something like this to Xie Sixin in private: "The depth of this son's scheming is unparalleled by other people's. He is also vicious and decisive, and he is bold in killing. If he is allowed to get bigger, no one will be able to control him in the future!"
Xie Sixin shook his head gently and said lightly: "What happens in the future is up to the court to worry about. If the governor's current decision-making goes slightly wrong, Liao affairs will be in danger."
In desperation, Hong Chengchou sent Xie Sixin to negotiate with Zhang Cheng. The final result was that Hong Chengchou recommended Zhang Cheng to replace Yang Guozhu as the chief military officer of Xuanfu Town in the name of Jiliao Governor's Office.
The troops and horses in Xuanzhen were also controlled by Zhang Cheng, but because Li Fuming was stationed at the Xiaolinghekou grain station, the force was really weak.
With Zhang Cheng's approval, Kuang Yongzhong was declared a guerrilla in the town, and two battalions of infantry were formed by Du Si Tang Xiancheng. They were temporarily placed under the control of Shanxi Commander-in-Chief Li Fuming and stationed at Mamatou Mountain and the mouth of Xiaoling River to guard the safety of the grain garrison.
This proposal can also be said to be based on practical military considerations, so Zhang Cheng did not refuse. After all, he has become the biggest beneficiary of this matter.
Not only did he fully control the reinforcements brought by Yang Guozhu to Xuanzhen, but he was also recommended to take over as the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen. According to his judgment, at this critical period of the Liao Dynasty, and with Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, personally recommending him, the court and the emperor would most likely agree.
Even in exchange, he could not refuse to temporarily deploy two battalions of infantry to garrison the mouth of the Xiaoling River to protect the safety of the grain road under Li Fuming's control.
However, there was another reason why Zhang Cheng agreed to send two battalions of guerrillas, Kuang Yongzhong and Tang Xiancheng, to garrison at Mamatou Mountain and the mouth of the Xiaoling River!