Chapter Two Hundred and Nine: Tongue Fighting Group Confucianism
At the foot of Shimen Mountain on the south bank of the Nerv River, in the Chinese army tent of Jiliao Governor Hong Chengchou, his confidant Xie Sixin glanced at Zhang Cheng and continued: "There are many enemies facing our Jiliao army and horse, and we are holding a stalemate with them here.
We were also unable to withstand the enemy, and there was no hope of defeating the enemy. The two armies of Kuang Ma Ke and Bai Guang En were defeated first and could no longer be used. Tang Tong's troops were cleaning up the mess behind and could not join me for a while.
Now there are still soldiers and horses of the Four Banners who have not traced the slave bandits. How do we know that they are not hiding behind the slave bandits of Zhengbai Banner, waiting for an opportunity to fight my army in Henan, and rush to the foot of Songshan City in one fell swoop?"
Xie Sixin saw Zhang Cheng smiling and said nothing, and then continued: "Before this battle, according to General Zhang's proposal, the elite cavalry in each town was organized into three groups to quickly reinforce various battlefields. Among them, Liaodong Deputy General Zu Da
The music club has accompanied General Chang Bo to the battle.
At present, there are only two elite cavalry units of Vice General Chen of the Chinese Army and General Guo of Xuanfu. They have not yet been ordered to go into battle and are waiting in Songshan. But now that all our troops have been sent out, only the two generals Chen and Guo have not moved their troops and horses, so they should not be taken lightly.
out."
Zhang Cheng naturally knew that he was testing himself on behalf of Governor Hong Chengchou, so he did not get angry at the moment, but said in a pleasant manner: "What Mr.
An urgent military report has arrived."
As he spoke, he waved to Zhang Chengfang, who was standing by the felt door of the military tent. Zhang Chengfang quickly took out a letter from his arms and handed it to a soldier beside the governor.
Zhang Cheng didn't wait for Hong Chengchou to look at it, and continued: "It was the last general's fault just now. Because he had such a pleasant conversation with Mr.
."
He smiled and said: "Chen Zheng's troops were at the foot of Changling Mountain and found most of the Tatars under the Zhenghuang Banner and the Xianghuang Banner. When the sentries left, most of the Mongolian Tatars were attacking Changling Mountain.
It seems that he is determined and determined to win!"
Sure enough, Xie Sixin's face immediately showed an unhappy look, but his tone was still very polite: "Mr. Xie, please don't blame me. I really didn't remember it just now.
Now, the Tatars with white flags and two yellow flags have appeared in the direction of Xingshan, and there are also men and horses from Mongolia and Mongolia's two yellow flags. It can be seen that the people they are targeting must also be in our Xingta grain road."
Xie Sixin was speechless for a moment. Li Song looked up at Hong Chengchou and saw that he was reading the letter just now, so he said: "According to General Zhang's military situation, the direction of Changling Mountain and Xingshan Mountain is also dangerous.
However, General Liu Zhaoji and General Zuo Guangxian are stationed there, and General Meng Dao is assisting us. Moreover, Changling Mountain is extremely dangerous, and I understand that it will not be easy for the Tatars to capture it.
Do you want to observe it for a few more days and then make a decision? Otherwise, if the army is lightly deployed, once the main direction of the Tatar attack is in Songshan, wouldn't it be passive?"
Wu Sangui had been sitting silently, but he couldn't help but added: "Yes, there are tens of thousands of Tatars here now, and the slave chief Hongtai is under Jinzhou City, how do you know that they are not here for the purpose?"
I want to lure the tiger away from the mountain, but I can still win with one blow?"
Zhang Cheng did not answer Wu Sangui's question immediately, but took a cup of tea and took a sip of tea. He took the opportunity to glance sideways at Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, and saw that his face was as calm as water as he listened to everyone's discussion, and he could not tell at all.
A thought in my heart.
However, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen had never cared about this kind of military strategy dispute. They had only one principle for the phalanx, which was to act at the discretion of Governor Hong Chengchou.
Zhang Cheng secretly shook his head. He knew that Hong Chengchou intended to let Xie Sixin and Li Song rush ahead, in order to test his own ideas, or to weigh himself.
He put down the tea cup and said calmly: "In terms of Tao strategy, Zhang Cheng laments that he is not as good as Mr. Xie and Mr. Li, but I also know that the Xingta grain road is the lifeblood of my army to aid the Liao Dynasty, and it is related to the morale and morale of our army.
In fact, it was the key to the success or failure of the Jinzhou War.
Just imagine, if the grain route is cut off by slaves and bandits, and the transportation capacity of the Xiaoling River mouth is limited, not to mention the sea transportation of grain and grass is also limited by weather, wind and waves, it will definitely not be able to meet the needs of the entire army.
As for our army of over 100,000 troops on the Jinzhou front line, once our food supplies run out, the consequences will be disastrous. If we don’t need slaves and bandits to attack, I’m afraid our army will be in chaos!”
There was a moment of silence in the military tent. As Zhang Cheng said, if the main force of the Tatars was really in the direction of Xingshan, Zuo Guangxian, Liu Zhaoji and others' soldiers and horses alone might not be able to resist them.
Once what Zhang Cheng said becomes reality, the consequences will be unbearable for everyone in the military tent!
Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, put down the tea cup in his hand and made a soft "pop" sound on the table.
The entire army mobilized its elite cavalry to Xingshan, but the slaves and thieves are planning on Songshan, so what will happen?"
Zhang Cheng looked at Xie Sixin with bright eyes, a smile on his face, and said lightly: "If I were the slave chief Hong Tai, I would naturally not use my own elite to confront you."
He glanced around the military tent, finally stopping at Hong Chengchou, and said: "My lord, the general thought that the slave bandits were in Huangtu Ridge, and Shimen Mountain was using a tactic to lure the enemy, with the intention of luring me into the army, and then sent a force
The elite trapped my army here.
However, his strong and elite cavalry detoured and rushed to attack the rear of our army. Even if they could not go down Xingshan and Tashan in one go, with the sharpness of the slave thieves and their elite cavalry, even if Liu Shuai and Zuo Shuai were to come, they would not be able to stop their rampage.
.
If the slave thieves use fine cavalry to protect us, but use slaves to dig trenches and block our food routes and retreats, how should we deal with it, and how can we ensure a continuous supply of food and grass for the army and stable military morale?"
There was no expression on Hong Chengchou's face, he was still as calm and steady as ever. He asked Zhang Cheng: "In General Zhongchen's opinion, how should we deal with it?"
Zhang Cheng sat in his chair and clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, according to Zhang Cheng's opinion, our army should immediately shrink and return to defend Shimen Mountain and Rufeng Mountain. In this way, only infantry and chariot camps can stop the slave bandit's attack, leaving only a few
Ride well in case of emergencies.
And among the three elite cavalry of our army, one can be left in Songshan for emergency response, and the remaining two elite cavalry can rush to Xingshan to aid in just one day. Even if the slaves and thieves are not interested in our Xingta grain.
He said, it only takes two or three days for the cavalry to come and go.
At such a time, can't we, with hundreds of thousands of troops on the Songshan front line, still not be able to hold on?"
In his heart, Hong Chengchou really agreed with Zhang Cheng's proposal, but he didn't like Zhang Cheng's attitude, nor did he like Zhang Cheng's feeling that he was superior to Wu Sangui in every way.
Only then did Xie Sixin and Li Song secretly come forward to make things difficult for Zhang Cheng, with the intention of embarrassing or subduing Zhang Cheng. Who would have thought that Zhang Cheng kept his strategy in mind and talked eloquently, with the potential to "fight with the Confucian scholars".
Hong Chengchou was really unexpected!
Now, he had to express his position, and he said very elegantly: "What General Zhongchen said is indeed true. Xingta is an important place for the army's food supply. It is related to the lifeline of our entire army and must be guarded.
Everyone, please tell me, how should you deal with the slave bandit showing up in Xingshan with a white flag?"
There was a silence in the military tent, everyone seemed to be thinking, but everyone understood in their hearts that the strategy Zhang Cheng just proposed was undoubtedly the most appropriate.
At this time, when a large army goes to war, what they fear most is that they will bloom everywhere and fight everywhere. In this way, they will lose their focus and the troops will be stretched thin and insufficient for use.
Therefore, there is a saying in the art of war that “know yourself and the enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles”!
To know one's own side is to understand one's own shortcomings and priorities. Take the Ming army as an example. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the foot of Xiaosongshan City. Naturally, the supply of food and grass to the army is the most important.
And the most important places on one's own side are often the places that the enemy is eager to capture. With the ability of Qing Emperor Huang Taiji, naturally he would not fail to see this?
Come to think of it, many battles in ancient and modern times were all defeated by the issue of food and grass!
Seeing that everyone was thinking secretly, Zhang Cheng took the lead and said: "Everyone, please imagine, if you were in the position of the slave chief Hongtai, how would you fight with us? Should you use your elite troops to fight hard here, or
Is it a good deal to use elite troops to secretly attack our food route?"
He took a sip of tea, changed the subject, and added: "You must all know that Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms, in the battle of Guandu, it was Cao Cao who attacked Yuan Shao's hoard of grain, and that was the classic example of defeating more with less.
Now, although the situation our army is in is not as good as when Yuan Shao faced Cao Cao back then, we still have the advantage!"
In the eyes of everyone praying, Zhang Cheng continued: "Our army is large and our military strength is better than that of slaves and thieves. This is one; our army has won consecutive battles and has high morale. This is two; our army has two fronts: sea and land.
Transporting grain, and the national power is also superior to slaves and thieves, these are the third.
With these three advantages, we only need to confront the slaves and thieves for a few more months. Once the bitter cold comes in the middle of winter, the slaves and thieves will inevitably be cut off from food and grass. At that time, we may be able to easily win without having to fight with them."
Seeing that no one answered, Zhang Cheng hurriedly struck while the iron was hot: "Think again, everyone, now I have the advantage, but it has not yet formed a tendency to crush the slaves and thieves, and the battlefield situation is changing rapidly. Once the slaves and thieves' plans are true,
Xingta Grain Road.
Our army's food route has been cut off, and all the advantages mentioned just now are gone, and a defeat is imminent!"
Seeing that everyone was silent for a long time, Hong Chengchou said: "Everything Zhongchen said makes sense. The governor also thought that we should send troops to reinforce the Xingshan front line."
Under the attention of everyone, Hong Chengchou said again: "As Zhongchen said, the cavalry advances and retreats like the wind, and can arrive at any time. The governor intends to select a group of elite cavalry to rush to the direction of Xingshan to relieve the urgent need.
If the slave thieves are really invincible and our food routes are in danger, it will not be too late to send a large army to rescue them."
In this way, Hong Chengchou has set the tone and everyone has no objections. The next step is to discuss the selection of the main general to rescue Xingshan. After some discussion, it was finally agreed that Xuanfu counselor Guo Yingxian would lead the Xuan Da Jingqi to rescue Xingshan.
Mountain.
Although Zhang Cheng was still striving to send more reinforcements, and even proposed that he serve as the general to aid Xingshan, he was unable to win over everyone and could not get the consent of Governor Hong Chengchou, so he had to give up.
In fact, Zhang Cheng hoped to defeat Duoduo and other Tatar thieves in one fell swoop between the Xingta Towers. If this could be done, the war in Jinzhou would be over.
After the generals dispersed, Hong Chengchou discussed with Xie Sixin, Li Song and others how to deal with Bai Guangen.
Bai Guangen, the commander-in-chief of Ji Town, was stationed five miles to the east at the moment. He wrote to Hong Chengchou that the responsibility for his camp's collapse lay solely with Ma Ke, the commander-in-chief of Shanhai Town. It was Ma Ke who personally led the troops to charge into the formation, which caused the camp's collapse in Ji Town.
In this regard, both sides naturally insisted on their own opinions, and Hong Chengchou did not argue with them. However, it is an ironclad fact that Bai Houren, the deputy general of Jizhen, led his troops to break up the Ningyuan army's formation.
However, the Liao Dynasty was extremely difficult, and the Jinzhou war was pending. It was the time to recruit people, not to mention that Bai Guangen had gathered nearly ten thousand troops. Hong Chengchou also relaxed the situation and temporarily dismissed Bai Guangen from the post of commander-in-chief of Jizhen and ordered him to lead the army.
Keep it and use it to dedicate it to meritorious deeds.
…………
On August 29, the Ming army completely abandoned its position on the south bank of the Neryu River and began to retreat in an orderly manner.
First, Tang Tong, the commander-in-chief of Miyun, retreated to East Shimen, covering the gathered defeated soldiers and civilians, as well as the soldiers and horses of Shanhai Town and Ji Town, and slowly retreated to Songshan City.
Wu Sangui, on the other hand, cut off the entire army, with Wang Tingchen in the lead, Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, in the middle, followed by Cao Bianjiao, and finally Wu Sangui's troops and horses slowly retreated into the west stone gate.
Prince Dorgon of Qing Dynasty saw the Ming army retreating, and immediately guessed that they were going to retreat to Shimen Mountain and Rufeng Mountain. Although they continuously sent out elite cavalry in an attempt to stop them, they failed to succeed.
He rode his horse on the high hill and looked at the slowly retreating Ming army. He couldn't help but admire: "Hong Chengchou is really not simple. He actually saw through our army's strategy. It seems that this person should not be underestimated!"
On August 29, at noon, General Guo Yingxian of Xuanfu Town of the Ming Dynasty led thousands of elite cavalry from Xuanda to set off and hurried towards Xingshan and Changling Mountains.
In the evening of that day, the third army from Changling Mountain reported to Huangtuling, and the Qing army with red flags and horses appeared at the foot of Changling Mountain.
At the same time, Zuo Guangxian, who was stationed at Wudaoling, also sent troops to Songshan. The Qing army's red flag troops were struggling to attack the Wudaoling defense line and asked Governor Hong Chengchou to quickly send reinforcements to rescue them.
At this point, the main battlefield of the Battle of Jinzhou between the Ming and Qing Dynasties was also transferred from the Songjin Front to the Xingshan and Tashan Fronts. The battle for grain roads also became the battle for victory in the decisive battle of Liaodong between the Ming and Qing Dynasties!
…………
Prince Duduo of Yu of the Qing Dynasty was in a somewhat gloomy mood. Although the Ming army's first line of defense in Changling Mountain had been captured, the casualties on his side were beyond what he could accept.
However, now that the matter has come to this, he can't just retreat.
After all, he fought fiercely for three days at the foot of Changling Mountain, costing thousands of casualties, and only managed to break through the first line of defense of the Ming army. How would he end it?
What makes Duduo slightly gratified is that among the thousands of casualties, the Eight Banners of Manchuria accounted for a very small proportion. Most of them were Mongolia, soldiers and horses of the Eight Banners and Mongolia. Of course, most of the casualties in the coated slaves were in the trench filling at the foot of Changling Mountain.
During the battle.
Changling Mountain not only killed and wounded many Qing troops, but also made Prince Duduo of Yu angry. He stood in the night sky, looked up at the dark sky, and secretly swore that he would break through Changling Mountain and capture the guard here alive.
It would be better to peel off his heart and liver and drink it!
At the same time, he also decided to personally lead the warriors with the white flag and the red flag tomorrow to conquer Changling Mountain in one fell swoop and show those losers from the two yellow flags.