The Manchu and Qing positions in the west of the city were garrisoned by the Zhenghong Banner of Daishan, part of the Blue Banner of Jierhalang, and the rest were the Eight Banners of Mongolia and the Eight Banners of the Han Army.
Daishan was old and didn't sleep very deeply. When he heard the sound, he immediately went out to check.
Jirharang rode up in person and said to Daishan: "The Nanman raided the forts along the river. All the forts there were lost, and the Wuzhenchaoha camp near the fort was also destroyed."
"How many enemy troops are there?" Daishan asked.
Jirhalang said: "It's not clear yet, but it shouldn't be many, otherwise the enemy would have killed them long ago."
Dai Shan said: "Immediately organize a counterattack and drive those southern barbarians into the sea!"
The two men ordered more than 10,000 horse and infantry troops, brought out the siege artillery, and headed in the direction of Lu Xiangsheng and Xiao Zongxian.
Although the Qing Dynasty's siege artillery was protected by earthen walls, more than twenty of them were destroyed by the Datong Army. More than twenty artillery pieces of the forts along the river were also captured by Lu Xiangsheng and Xiao Zongxian in a surprise attack, which was equivalent to the loss of fifty.
about.
The remaining 130 or so artillery pieces are scattered on the east, west and north sides of Gaizhou City. Only 40 cannons can be used on the west side.
When the Eight Banners Army of the Manchu and Qing dynasties pulled out of their siege positions and assembled to attack westward, more than 4,000 reinforcements had arrived. One thousand of them were artillery. Fifty artillery pieces were moved from the ship and set up on the shore.
At the position, the forwards led by Lu Xiangsheng and Xiao Zongxian also dragged over twenty captured cannons.
Cao Zhenyan and other prisoners also worked hard. These surrendered Manchu artillerymen, in order to leave a good impression in front of the Datong Army, were very active in helping transport the artillery to the seaside.
Those who are not active will die!
Before the third batch of reinforcements arrived, Li Dingguo and Wang Tingchen came back. They fought all the way to the vicinity of Jinzhou, but Ningyuan and Jinzhou had heavy troops, and they almost suffered a loss when they plundered the population.
Seeing the Tatars pushing the cart forward, the two cavalrymen immediately turned into infantry to help defend the temporary position first.
Li Dingguo arranged the soldiers under his command and ran quickly to see Lu Xiangsheng and Xiao Zongxian: "The first division and the second division are attacking Shanhaiguan. The news has spread to Fuzhou City. We are going back to Fuzhou first this time. Ningyuan of the Tatars
, the soldiers of Jinzhou were delayed for several days by General Wang (Wang Tingchen) and I. In a few days, we lost more than 300 cavalry, but we also delayed the Tatars from rescuing Shanhaiguan for a few days."
"Okay!" Lu Xiangsheng clapped his hands happily.
This was a military plan that had been planned long ago. Once the Qing Dynasty attacked Gaizhou, Zhang Tieniu and Fei Ruhe would go to Shanhaiguan. They both went by boat. One set off from Dengzhou and landed east of Shanhaiguan, and the other set off from Tianjin.
Landed west of Shanhaiguan and attacked the defenders in Shanhaiguan from east to west.
As long as Shanhaiguan is captured, troops will be stationed there and hungry people will be recruited to farm in the pass, which will serve as another base for sending troops to Liaodong in the future.
This is a safe plan. You can also cross the sea and cooperate with Li Zheng and Xiao Zongxian to surround Dorgon's retreat with four divisions and directly defeat the elite Eight Banners army. However, the logistics pressure is too great. Once there is a storm, it will be extremely difficult.
It is possible that the entire army is hungry and the Bohai Sea has entered a period of high storms. The navy only dares to sail along the coastline. Crossing the Bohai Sea is an extremely risky move, and transporting troops and food is a high-risk act.
Just when Daishan and Jierhalang were about to lead their troops to attack the reinforcement position, a fast horse came from the north like crazy. The horse was so tired that it was foaming at the mouth.
"Your Highness, Shanhaiguan is being attacked from two sides, and Weiyuan Terrace was occupied by the Nanman a few days ago!" the messenger knelt down and said.
Inside the handsome tent, there was dead silence.
Weiyuan Terrace, also known as Weiyuan City, is about one kilometer east of Shanhaiguan. Historically, it was here that Wu Sangui asked for surrender and joined the Qing Dynasty as a pioneer in entering the customs.
Some people say that Weiyuan Terrace was built by Wu Sangui. In fact, it existed as early as the Wanli Dynasty.
If the Manchu Qing wanted to attack Shanhaiguan, they had to attack Weiyuantai first. And there was a tunnel connecting Shanhaiguan and Weiyuantai, which could transport troops unexpectedly.
Among the Datong army, there were obviously knowledgeable people who quickly attacked and captured Weiyuan Terrace, and then blocked the troop transport channel.
As for Shanhaiguan City, there are 6,000 Eight Banners troops stationed there, as well as more than 10,000 family members of the Eight Banners troops.
The food in the city can only last three or four months at most.
If the soldiers and civilians were killed and eaten, they could last at most half a year. If Dorgon was still wasting his time with the Datong Army in Gaizhou, even if he captured the city, he would not be able to rescue Shanhaiguan if he could not seize a large amount of grain and grass.
Because to rescue Shanhaiguan, Weiyuan Tower must be captured first. The Datong Army only needs to defend this city to consume Dorgon's troops and supplies.
Destroy the city or save Shanhaiguan?
Dorgon felt his mouth was dry. He expected that Shanhaiguan would be attacked, but he did not expect to be attacked from both sides. This is different. Putting aside the offensive and defensive battles of Guancheng, Shanhaiguan's supply of grain and grass was a big problem. Liaodong's grain
It's stuck on Weiyuan Terrace and can't be transported.
The Datong Army did not even need to attack, but only stationed troops in Weiyuan Tai, and could starve the Eight Banners Army in Shanhaiguan to death!
"Convene nobles from all banners to discuss matters!" Dorgon could not make the decision on his own.
A war was about to break out in the west of the city, and all the carriages were pushed out. After receiving Dorgon's order, they could only temporarily withdraw and let Lu Xiangsheng's reinforcements gain a foothold on the seaside.
Jirharang came angrily and asked, "I'm in the middle of a war, why are you summoned in such a hurry?"
Dorgon said: "Shanhaiguan was attacked from the east and west, and Weiyuan Terrace was raided and captured by the enemy."
Jierhalang said: "Weiyuantai is east of Shanhaiguan. The enemy has not captured Shanhaiguan. How can it be possible to capture Weiyuantai?"
"It must have come by boat." Daishan said out loud.
Dorgon nodded and said, "I came by boat."
Hauge walked and sat down next to Dorgon: "Gaizhou City is not easy to fight. Yesterday I had three favorite generals. Two of them died and one was crippled. If we continue to fight, they will all die."
Daishan said: "The fortifications in the west of the city are not stable. The Nanman reinforcements have pulled out the forts along the river, and the Wuzhenhachao Camp extending out of the camp is gone. Once the siege continues, the enemy's reinforcements will definitely attack the west side of our army. Ji and I will
Erhalang's position is very dangerous."
Man Dahai suggested: "It's better to gather our troops and attack the enemy's reinforcements with all our strength."
Ji'erharang couldn't help but roll his eyes: "The enemy troops in Gaizhou City are not dead. Let's attack their reinforcements with all our strength. The defenders in the city will definitely look for opportunities to fight. Moreover, the reinforcement camp is on the seaside. Not only the reinforcements have artillery, but also the reinforcements
The ships also have artillery. It was the best opportunity to attack just now, but now it has been delayed. After the enemy has established a foothold, it will be almost as difficult to conquer it as to attack the city."
Hauge said angrily: "Are we abandoning Gaizhou and rushing to rescue Shanhaiguan with our army? Aren't we exhausted and being led by the Nanman?"
Dorgon looked at Daishan: "What's your idea, second brother?"
Dai Shan sighed: "What other ideas do you have? Retreat immediately and divide your troops to guard Yaozhou and Haizhou to prevent the enemies of Gaizhou from moving north. Then the main force will be stationed in Ningyuan and Jinzhou. After a month's rest, more grain and grass will be recruited, and then Shanhaiguan will be rescued.
.You cannot go directly to Shanhaiguan, otherwise you will be defeated by the enemy waiting for work!"
Jirhalang also said: "Shanhaiguan cannot be lost. Once it is lost, we will be blocked in Liaodong again. And those southern barbarians, after taking Shanhaiguan, can farm in the next few years, and they can send troops at any time when they have enough food and grass.
At that time, both Ningyuan and Jinzhou are in danger, and with the enemy in Gaizhou, we will be attacked from both sides and become what we were more than ten years ago."
More than ten years ago, the Manchu Qing Dynasty was besieged on all sides. The Ming Dynasty, Mongolia, North Korea, and even the savage Jurchen tribe were all at war with the newly rising Manchu Qing Dynasty.
Moreover, the internal affairs of the Manchu Qing Dynasty were almost collapsed by Nurhachi. They were so short of food that they robbed the food of the Han people under his rule. Each household paid as much food as they wanted, and if they couldn't pay, they would kill people.
After Nurhachi's death, Daishan could inherit the throne. However, facing the dilemma, Daishan knew that he could not shoulder the heavy responsibility, so he supported Huang Taiji's succession.
It was Huang Taiji who saved the Qing Dynasty and led the Qing Dynasty out of its predicament.
Once Shanhaiguan is lost, the Manchu and Qing Dynasties will reappear in the predicament that Huang Taiji faced when he succeeded to the throne. Dorgon is not Huang Taiji, and he does not have the ability to lead the Manchu and Qing Dynasties out of the quagmire!
After the leaders of the Eight Banners expressed their stance, Dorgon exhaled: "Withdraw troops!"
Gaizhou is not a public toilet. You can come and leave whenever you want.
With more than 30,000 comrade troops here, the Manchu Qing had to pay a sufficient price for withdrawing their troops.
On that day, the remaining artillery of the Manchu Qing Dynasty poured shells wildly towards the city wall. Although the cannon casting technology in the early Qing Dynasty was much higher than that in the late Qing Dynasty, it had to be used sparingly in a short period of time, otherwise the life of the artillery would be greatly reduced.
The Manchus and Qing Dynasties were crazy. They didn't care about the life of the artillery. They continued to fire after it cooled down a little, making no secret of their imminent withdrawal.
In addition to opening fire on Gaizhou City, they also opened fire on Lu Xiangsheng's camp on the seaside.
The bombardment lasted for three full days, with several artillery guns exploding. At the same time, large groups of cavalry were sent to explore and clear the way to the north.
On the fourth day, Dorgon ordered: "Destroy all heavy artillery, destroy all carriages and ladders!"
The so-called heavy artillery of the Qing Dynasty refers to artillery of more than 10 pounds. This kind of artillery can't be driven very fast while traveling.
Then, Dorgon left behind a large number of civilians and a Uzhenha Chao Battalion to block the pursuit of the Datong Army.
"The Tatars are really trying to escape and are ready to leave the city to pursue them!" Hu Dinggui said from the top of the city tower, patting the railings left by the bombardment.
I didn't dare to pursue him immediately, fearing that the Manchus were luring the enemy out of the city.
Watching the Manchu and Qing army break away, Li Yangxing, who stayed behind, was almost desperate. He was a soldier of Kong Youde, and he did well in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, but no matter how well he did, he became an outcast.
Dorgon had just summoned Li Yangxing in person: "Fight the war well and delay it as long as possible. I will take good care of your wife and children. Your eldest son will be given a hereditary title. Your youngest son will stay with me as a personal attendant."
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How else could Li Yangxing choose?
Risking your life to stop the Datong Army can bring peace to your wife and children, as well as the wealth of your sons. If you dare to surrender on the battlefield, your whole family will die miserably, and after surrendering to the Datong Army, there will probably be no good fruits to eat.
The frustrated Li Yangxing said to the Eight Banners of the Han Army under his command: "Kill the enemy and serve the country. Today, guard the camp!"
The morale of these Wu Zhen Chao soldiers is extremely low. Who the hell wants to die?