Hong Chengchou said to several generals: "There are still more than 10,000 soldiers in the city, but there is not much food left. I originally thought that if I went to Li Chuang, he could send some food as soon as possible, but now it is obviously of no use. Let me tell you,
How should we fight this battle?"
In the past two years, Hong Chengchou has been farming in Jizhen, but there has been a serious drought for two consecutive years.
In addition, there were rebels and bandits all over the surrounding areas, and Hong Chengchou had to suppress the mob, so it was not easy for him to collect some food, which was also consumed.
Jiang Zhu, the deputy commander who escaped from Liaodong, said: "We can only break out. After breaking out, we can go to Shanhaiguan and join forces with Li Chuang to attack Huang Taiji. Then Li Chuang will have to give him military rations. Or, after breaking out, we can go south directly."
, go to Shandong to join forces with Zuo Liangyu."
Jiang Zhu never thought of defecting to Zhao Han because he was born as a general in Hunan.
All his family's land was distributed to military households by Zhao Han. The men in his family were taken away to mine, and the women in his family were also forced to remarry.
It can be said that Jiang Zhu and Zhao Han have a sworn hatred!
Wang Tingchen said: "I think we should hold on and eat when the army rations are gone... The longer we stay here, the greater the chance of Li Chuang's victory. Maybe we can kill the old thief (Huang Taiji)!"
Hong Chengchou actually preferred to stick to it.
The Manchu and Qing troops were sent out in such a hurry that they did not have time to attack them in full force.
Huang Taiji only had 40,000 troops in hand, Haoge and Dorgon each received 10,000, and the remaining Eight Banners troops were still gathering in Liaodong. Although Hong Chengchou didn't know the specific number, judging from the speed at which the Manchus sent troops, he could guess the opponent.
There must be insufficient troops.
There are more than 10,000 soldiers in Jizhou. If they work together, they can defend until the Qing Dynasty partial division runs out of rations.
Li Zicheng's 80,000-strong army is very likely to defeat Huang Taiji!
Cao Bianjiao said: "If you defend for a long time, you will definitely lose. Tang Tong and Bai Guangen are looking at the wind and surrendering. There may be people in Jizhou City who want to surrender. We can defend for three days and five days. After ten days and a half, what if someone secretly communicates with the Tatars?"
Although these words are unpleasant to hear, they make sense.
The officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty fought for many years, and many times they had the upper hand. Some people would escape for no apparent reason, and some would surrender for no apparent reason.
"It was my poor arrangement and a big mistake in hiring people." Hong Chengchou had to admit his mistake because all the generals had resentments in their hearts.
Tang Tong was brought by Hong Chengchou from Xuanhua. He believed that this person was trustworthy, so he arranged to defend the direction of Lengkou. Unexpectedly, he surrendered without firing an arrow. Hong Chengchou had the responsibility of knowing people but not knowing them.
Cao Bianjiao stood up and pressed his sword: "The two partial armies of the Tatars have joined together, and their strength is only 20,000. Including Tang Tong and Bai Guang'en who surrendered, the strength is less than 30,000. Tang Tong and Bai Guang'en are both incompetent, but a night attack on these two men is too big."
If the camp is in chaos, the whole army will collapse. When the time comes, take the opportunity to kill the Tatars. If the Tatars camp is in chaos, they will attack fiercely. If the Tatars are still in chaos, they will retreat to the city. Regardless of whether to defend or go, fight a victorious battle first!"
"Yes, let's win one first and then talk about it." Wang Tingchen nodded in agreement.
Hong Chengchou asked: "Who is willing to lead troops to attack at night?"
Cao Bianjiao smiled and said: "Since it was my idea, I should go and attack at night. You guys can make preparations. Once the Tatar camp breaks into chaos, all the troops in the city will come out to kill the thieves."
After discussing the details, Hong Chengchou finalized the matter.
Cao Bianjiao immediately selected the best soldiers in the army. After nightfall, he led more than 400 cavalry and more than 500 infantry out of the city to attack the camp.
After many battles, Cao Bianjiao's remaining cavalrymen now only have more than 400.
The night attack went very smoothly.
Although Tang Tong actively contributed ideas and made meritorious deeds, his troops had no fighting spirit. Moreover, they felt that there were Qing troops stationed in the city, so the defenders did not dare to leave the city for a sneak attack.
Unprepared, Cao Bianjiao led his cavalry into the camp, and the infantry set fire to and killed the enemy camp.
Tang Tong woke up in the middle of the night and was so frightened that he ran away on horseback.
"Father, save me...ah!"
Tang Tong vaguely heard his son's screams, but he couldn't care less. His son could regenerate after death, but he would have nothing if he died. He galloped madly towards the Qing army's camp.
The camps of Tang Tong and Bai Guangen were serialized together, but the Qing army camps were separated by a long distance.
Bai Guangen's reaction was similar to that of Tang Tong. He mounted his horse and fled towards the Qing army's camp.
There were probably more than 2,000 defeated troops, and they all fled towards the Qing army camp. The outskirts of Dorgon's camp were disrupted. Dorgon was so frightened that he ran towards Hauge and ordered his soldiers to blow.
No. Assembled.
Dorgon was very powerful in political struggle, but as for civil affairs and military affairs, to be honest... it was quite embarrassing.
He was attacked by Cao Bianjiao at night at Xifengkou and was almost hacked to death on the spot. Now he was so frightened that he ran away in case of an emergency and did not dare to gather troops where he was.
"Blow the trumpet, blow the trumpet!"
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuu"
The Qing army's camp was in chaos. Cao Bianjiao blew his trumpet. According to the established plan, the army in the city should fight out together.
"Open the city gates and send out troops!" Hong Chengchou was overjoyed.
Jiang Zhu said, "Supervisor, the Tartar camp may not be in chaos yet, so we can wait a little longer."
It's really not that messy.
Dorgon's camp was in chaos but not broken, and was dispersing into multiple groups.
Hauge has finished gathering his troops and is heading towards Cao Bianjiao.
Of course, if the Jizhou defenders take the opportunity to attack, they will have a certain chance of winning.
But no one wants to take risks, not even Jiang Zhu.
Wang Tingchen was planning his troops to go out to fight, but his generals were trembling with fear. Wang Tingchen and his servants all rushed out of the city gate, but his generals were still hesitant and let the general watch him attack alone.
"Asshole!"
Wang Tingchen rode out for a while, but suddenly felt something was wrong. He turned around and was immediately furious.
"I don't have enough advice, I'll go back to Beijing to pick up my family first!" Wang Tingchen took two hundred family members and ran south. He neither supported Cao Bianjiao nor returned to the city to hold on.
Cao Bianjiao charged and killed several Manchu nobles. The elite infantry he led were all dead, and there were only more than 300 servants and cavalry left under his command.
The fierce battle has been going on so far, but the friendly troops have not come to support, so Cao Bianjiao already knows what is going on.
"Breakout to the south!"
The small group of Qing soldiers who had just gathered were quickly dispersed by Cao Bianjiao. Before Hauge and Dorgon led their troops to encircle them, Cao Bianjiao narrowly escaped from the enemy camp, leaving only more than 160 cavalry around him.
Wang Tingchen heard the sound of horse hooves behind him and immediately ordered his servants to rein in their horses and stop.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"
The horn sounded, and Cao Bianjiao came to join them.
"Why don't you come to support!" Cao Bianjiao asked angrily.
Wang Tingchen explained: "I am out of the city, and all the generals will not follow me. How can I support you?"
Cao Bianjiao said depressedly: "What are your plans next?"
Wang Tingchen said: "I want to go back to Beijing first, pick up my family, and then go to the south together. I can go to anyone, but I can't stay in the north anyway. Once Jizhou falls, the Tatars will plunder everywhere, and even attack Shanhaiguan from behind.
, Li Zicheng will undoubtedly lose this battle!"
"You can still go back to pick up your family, but I can't even go back home!" Cao Bianjiao became even more angry.
The king's courtiers and his servants all belonged to the three thousand battalions of the Ming Dynasty's capital troops.
This unit was the strongest cavalry in the entire Ming Dynasty during Zhu Di's period. Later it fell apart. When Wang Tingchen first led the army, he saw the enemy fleeing after hearing the news.
Wang Tingchen had no choice but to imitate the border generals, rely on embezzlement of military pay, equip his cavalry, and turn part of the Ming Dynasty's 3,000 battalions into his own private servants.
In this way, the combat effectiveness is greatly increased.
Wang Tingchen himself, as well as the relatives of his servants, are both inside and outside Beijing at this moment.
They were eager to return home and had long been unwilling to stay in Jizhen.
Hundreds of cavalrymen ran south for a while, and soon headed west toward the capital.
Run until dawn and stop to rest.
Cao Bianjiao asked: "Who will I surrender to when I go south?"
Wang Tingchen said: "We all have a grudge against the bandits, how dare you still seek refuge with Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong?"
Cao Bianjiao said: "Zuo Liangyu is not a good person. If he encounters danger, he may sell us at any time."
Wang Tingchen smiled and said: "Then go through Shandong and join the Zhao bandits in Jiangxi!"
…
Jizhou City.
Hong Chengchou was furious and reprimanded the generals who did not dare to fight.
What else could he do but be incompetent and furious?
The next day, Jiang Zhu opened the door and surrendered, and the other generals also surrendered.
Jiang Zhu had no psychological burden. His family was ruined by Zhao Han, and he only occupied a lot of new farmland in Ji Town. This was his only remaining family property. Surrendering to the Manchus would save him, his life, his family business, and his army.
!
Hong Chengchou was arrested by Hauge, but he did not commit suicide, surrender, or go on a hunger strike.
Hauge and Dorgon entered the city to rob, and also kidnapped nearby people to work as husbandmen, and plundered all the way towards Shanhaiguan.
The garrison at Shanhaiguan was removed by Li Zicheng, leaving only Ma Ke with 5,000 troops to garrison.
While Ma Ke defended Guancheng, he sent people to report the news to Li Zicheng.
Yong'an Fort.
"Your Majesty, it's not good, the Tatars are storming Shanhaiguan in the pass!"
"Intensify your attack!"
Several days ago, Li Zicheng had received news that two Manchu troops had crossed the Great Wall to attack Jizhen.
Li Zicheng felt that Hong Chengchou was a capable player and his defense should not be a problem for two or three months.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the Jizhou army would have been destroyed!
Li Zicheng did not dare to divide his troops and go back to defend Shanhaiguan. He could only believe that Ma Ke could hold it. He had been attacking Yong'an Fort for 46 days, and he must make a strong effort today.
Tens of thousands of soldiers took turns attacking the city, risking their lives and rushing forward.
The Qing army's hot oil, gold juice, and rolling wood had long been used up. Artillery and muskets were fired continuously, and the walls of Yong'an Fort were also blown down in two places.
But I just can’t get in!
The Dashun army attacked frantically, and the Manchu Qing army defended at the risk of their lives. The intensity of the war far exceeded that of other battles in the south.
In this day alone, the total casualties on both sides exceeded 8,000.
Huang Taiji's heart was bleeding. More than 600 Manchurian flag soldiers died today. Several times, Wu Sangui and other surrendered generals could not withstand it, so they asked the Manchurian heavy armored infantry to carry them up.
"Withdraw troops!"
At night, Li Zicheng's entire army retreated. There was no point in continuing to fight. It was more advantageous to return to Shanhaiguan to defend.
Huang Taiji learned the news and immediately sent cavalry to chase him.
However, the Dashun elite did not leave any loopholes, and even withdrew the troops in an orderly manner, the Ming army would have retreated halfway and fled.
The war situation changed again.
Li Zicheng and Ma Ke were trapped in Shanhaiguan, Huang Taiji led his troops to the outside of Shanhaiguan, and Hauge and Dorgon led their troops to block the Shanhaiguan.
(PS: Regarding Li Zicheng’s military discipline of the Dashun Army, it can be divided into two stages. When he first occupied Beijing, Qiu did not commit any crimes, and the people in the capital were very willing to marry their daughters to Dashun soldiers, and they were proud of it. After the defeat of One Piece of Stone,
The military discipline of the Dashun Army deteriorated rapidly, and they looted and even raped women during the retreat. Yang Shicong's record should be the most credible. His wife, second concubine, and daughter committed suicide, and he had a deep hatred for Li Zicheng. However, it is also said that before Li Zicheng's defeat, military discipline
