Chapter 44 Lead the army to the south, and the Yuanjiang River is fighting
Li Sixing opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say, because he felt that there was something else in his father's words.
"His Royal Highness Min kept most of the gold and silver he received, which shows his fairness and sincerity. King Zhao wants to withdraw the troops from Tengchong, so Your Highness will send other troops to garrison him. If my father continues to pretend to be ignorant, I will definitely be suspicious of Your Highness." Li Dingguo sighed with emotion.
He continued: "Your Highness must still have doubts about being a father, otherwise why would he only talk about entering Sichuan to expand, but not mention the matter of the Thirteen Kuidong families?"
"My father is loyal to the Ming Dynasty and remains unwavering in times of crisis. Why does Your Highness Min want to be suspicious?" Li Sixing became a little angry, but also a little doubtful, and murmured: "Father, are you worrying too much? Your Highness Min?"
You know people very well, how can you not know your father's loyalty?"
Li Dingguo sighed secretly in his heart, but he laughed and said: "I think my father is too worried, so I don't have to worry about it. I follow His Highness Min for a living and write letters often. Don't let your father worry. Well, what His Highness Min said and did
, whether it can be written in a letter, as my father also wants to know how His Highness wants to promote the way of heaven."
When Li Sixing heard what his father said, he stopped thinking about it and agreed. The father and son chatted for a while and then went to rest.
If the clan stays behind, this is a righteous honor; if you go to the battlefield in person and win repeated battles, this is military merit; if you administer the government properly, this is to gather the morale of the army and win the victory. King Li Dingguo of Jin was lying on the bed, thinking over and over again, and felt that he really couldn't do it.
He and Zhu Yongxing were fighting against each other. Moreover, the situation in Yunnan Province had just improved, and Zhu Yongxing was not at fault. It was impossible for the internal strife to start from himself. Thinking of Yongli in Myanmar, and then imagining Zhu Yongxing's unparalleled achievements as a clan member in the future, Li Dingguo couldn't help but
A long sigh of regret.
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It was a blue, fresh dawn. The warmth of the sun and the coolness of the mountains blended together, making people feel a sweet tiredness.
The Qing army broke through Laowu Mountain, and Dazhuqing blocked it. The Ming army retreated during the night. Although there was no victory, it could be regarded as a victory. However, Wu Sangui's chest was uncomfortable, and he stood speechless for a long time on Laowu Mountain.
.
Once again, misfortunes never come singly. Before they reached Yuanjiang, an ominous shadow shrouded Wu Sangui's mind. Dali fell, Fuqianzhen was defeated, and he retreated to Chuxiong. This was an emergency document written by Fang Guangchen himself; the roundabout troops attacked
They were ambushed, thousands of soldiers were lost, and the general Wang Pingfan was also captured and killed.
He died before leaving the army, and the campaign of suppression had not yet reached Yuanjiang, but he had already lost two close generals, Wu Guogui and Wang Pingfan. How could Wu Sangui not be heartbroken, filled with hatred, and at the same time feel a sense of fear. And in western Yunnan
The situation deteriorated so quickly, which made him even more confused and uneasy, and he couldn't help but think of withdrawing his troops and changing the target of attack.
"Your Majesty." When Liu Xuan first saw Wu Sangui's expression change and knew that Wu Sangui was hesitant, he began to admonish him: "Mr. Fang's letter was urgent, but it also contained letters from Kunming Duni and Yilde, saying that Duni had led the Manchu army to reinforce Chu Xiong.
, just because I don’t want the prince to stop the campaign. With the tens of thousands of troops sent by the prince, they can rush to Chuxiong, so there will be no worries."
Wu Sangui smiled bitterly and sighed: "Don't I know what Doni and Yild mean, and they are afraid that I will give up halfway. But when it comes to conquering Yuanjiang, I have a fearful heart, so I hesitate to make a decision."
Of course Liu Xuanchu knew the reason why Wu Sangui suddenly became hesitant, so he deliberately said in a very certain tone: "Long Shirong must be dead. To win Mu Zhongxian's trust and lead our army to death is extremely vicious."
Only by saying this can we explain the ambush of the surrounding troops, instead of giving Wu Sangui the worry and fear that his opponent is unpredictable and knows the actions of the Qing army well.
Wu Sangui frowned slightly, not quite believing what Liu Xuanchu said. It would be unbelievable if he ended up like Long Shirong in death. What does a local official want? Could he be like some people?
Like a loyal and wise man, he regards death as home.
"How can a son-in-law be compared with a parent-child?" Liu Xuanchu continued to analyze in a serious manner: "It must be the pseudo-clan that promised great benefits, which made Long Shirong willing to risk his life for future wealth. I heard that the pseudo-clan has lost.
By using deceptive tactics such as granting land to the people and indiscriminately conferring official titles, Long Shirong would surely receive a supreme reward. If the prince still had doubts, he could send soldiers to arrest his family members, who would probably have fled away.
"
Wu Sangui nodded slightly in disbelief. Liu Xuanchu's words somewhat alleviated his doubts and fears, and with the disguised urging from the Manchu general, he could only continue to attack Yuanjiang.
"The pseudo-clan and the pseudo-wang Dingguo, Wen Xuan and the main force of the Ming army are all in western Yunnan, which is true; Yuanjiang Nasong has gathered many native chiefs, and the momentum is not small, but it is false." Liu Xuanchu continued: "The initial judgment of the humble official was wrong.
We have not discerned the false and true arrangements of the Ming army, and we have not observed their strategy of using falsehood to deceive the real and using reality to attack the false. However, the situation is like this, but it can still be changed. Chu Xiong gathered his troops to hold on, and he could deny the true; our army attacked Yuanjiang fiercely,
That is to fight against the false with the true.”
"Treat others in their own way." Wu Sangui raised the corner of his mouth and finally showed a smile, "The enemy forces in western Yunnan are strong and attacking fiercely. This is the plan to encircle Wei and save Zhao. I will not be fooled, so I will first pacify Yuanjiang.
If we return to the division to fight, the situation may be reversed. If we retreat here, we will fall into the enemy's trick."
"Your Majesty is wise." Liu Xuanchu took advantage of the situation and complimented him, and then reminded him: "The false king Dingguo is very cunning and good at using ambushes. Your Majesty should write a letter instructing the Chuxiong garrison not to go into battle, but to only rely on the fortified city to resist the enemy."
"Yes!" Wu Sangui thought of the bloody battle at Mopan Mountain, still feeling frightened, and sighed: "The false king is the most powerful enemy I have ever seen in my life. If Mr. Fang plans another plan in Chuxiong, I will have no worries."
also."
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Use the weak to distract the enemy, and use the strong to attack the weak. Although there are only a few words, it is very changeable. The tactics are different, and Wu Sangui and others obviously have not yet fully realized this.
Taking advantage of the victory to attack is a normal idea, but the Ming Army in West Yunnan quickly changed from a fierce attack to a feint attack, while Yuanjiang will soon change from a containment to a main battlefield. The difference between virtual and real changes has been thin.
The strength of Wu Sangui's army. Three thousand of Shiping's Manchu troops were transferred to Kunming; Wu Guogui's army was annihilated, and nearly half of Wangping's army was lost; more than 10,000 troops from He Jinzhong's army were sent to Chuxiong to conquer Yuanjiang.
The Qing army now has thirty-five to six thousand soldiers left.
Even with less than 40,000 soldiers in hand, Wu Sangui is still very confident. Because they have been in battle for a long time, the combat power and experience of these soldiers are not comparable to those of Yuanjiang's local soldiers. Of course, he would not think of Yuanjiang.
The defensive layout of the Qing Dynasty was greatly different from the traditional one. A new way of defending the city would greatly offset the Qing army's strengths. The Qing army would face a cruel and bloody war of attrition.
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Wu Sangui's army continued to advance towards Yuanjiang, and the soldiers and horses led by Zhu Yongxing also went south and entered Menghua Prefecture. Because of Zuo Xinghai's help, providing food, grass and civilians along the way, the Ming army marched very quickly in Menghua Prefecture.
After passing through the territory under the jurisdiction of Menghua Prefecture, the Ming army entered the land of Jingdong. Tao Dou, the prefect of Tu, pleaded guilty when the Ming army crossed the border to attack Yongchang. This time the Ming army came again with the power of a great victory. Tao Dou
His hospitality and care were naturally even more attentive.
When setting out from Erhaiwei, the Ming army numbered about 12,000 soldiers. They added another 4,000 local soldiers in Menghua and Jingdong, plus 5,000 heavy troops, and more than 20,000 troops were stationed in Jingdong.
Long Street and Xishe Road were temporarily rested. Before that, Zhu Yongxing had informed Yuanjiang and Yuanyang of the general attack deployment and contact methods. After arriving at Xishe Road, he received the latest information from Yuanjiang.
This might also be the last time Yuan Jiang sent information to the outside world. After careful consideration, Zhu Yongxing made the decision to postpone his advance.
Judging from the time calculation, the Qing army may have just arrived in Yuanjiang and has not yet launched an attack on Yuanjiang City. According to the city defense layout of Yuanjiang City, and with the dispatch of troops by Ma Bao from Yuanyang, Yuanjiang City will be safe for at least half a month.
It was quite certain to hold on for a few months. But by going down the Yuanjiang River, the Ming army could arrive within six days. This gave Zhu Yongxing the idea of attacking the Qing army as much as possible.
At the right time, choose the right raid target and deal a heavy blow to the tired Qing army. Obviously it is wiser and more insidious than going straight down to Yuanjiang now to fight with the sharp Qing army.
So, what is the weakness of the Qing army attacking Yuanjiang City? Where is the suitable target for the assault? When Zhu Yongxing was in Yuanjiang to comfort and inspect the city's defense terrain, it was just a vague idea. But when it came to attacking Longwei Pass,
After seeing the defense arrangement with Erhai Lake as a barrier, his idea became clear.
The ships and sailors used to go upstream from the Yuanjiang River are still waiting for pickup on Xishe Road, and have been watched over and taken care of by Tao Dou of Jingdong Tufu. Now, Zhu Yongxing wants to use these ships not only to transport troops, but also to go there.
To reinforce Yuanjiang City, ships should be used as sharp weapons to hit the key points of the Qing army.
It doesn't matter if the boat is small. The Qing army has no navy at all, so it doesn't pose much of a threat. It doesn't matter if the boat is small, and multiple boats can be nailed together with planks. In addition, Zhu Yongxing also sent messages to Menghua Mansion and Jingdong.
The government collected some boats and made some bamboo rafts, which finally made up the quantity.
At the same time, Zhu Yongxing ordered the soldiers to cook more rice, so as to reserve it for fifteen days. Along the way, he also took out gold and silver, and searched for grain, bacon, dried fish, salt and other supplies along the way, plus the Tufu supplies.
By providing support reports, you can make logistical preparations for continuous marches and battles.
Not all the army stopped to rest and recuperate. Five days later, Zhu Yongxing sent the vanguard, led by Chen Sheng, with 5,000 troops, heading south by land along the Yuanjiang River, and slowly moved toward the southeast.
At this time, the battle around Yuanjiang City entered the third day. The enemy and we were constantly fighting, and the outcome was difficult to determine.
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After ambushing the Qing army led by Wang Pingfan, the rebel army blocked Wu Sangui for two more days at Dazhuqing and Laowushan, and then retreated at night, crossed the river by the pontoon bridge, and entered Yuanjiang City.
Subsequently, after some reorganization, 25,000 people were left to defend Yuanjiang City, and the rest of the rebel army was divided into two groups. One group of 2,000 people entered Menglong to the west to prepare for the reinforcements led by Zhu Yongxing; the other group of 4
Thousands of people marched eastward, preparing to join the troops led by Yuanyang Ma Bao and accept Ma Bao's command.
All the residents in Yuanjiang City have been evacuated, which can ensure that the food reserves in the city can last for a long time. In these days, in addition to continuing to consolidate the city defense and stockpile various supplies, the rebels have also received a steady supply from the Shaba Arsenal. Tianwei
Cannons, sky-blasting cannons, and all kinds of ammunition were constantly transported by ships going up the river and stored in warehouses in the city.
With the continuous improvement of defense facilities and the increasing supply of supplies, coupled with the inspiration from the victory of annihilating Wu Guogui, ambushing Wang Pingfan, blocking the Qing army, and actual combat training, Nasong and the small staff became more and more confident in holding on to Yuanjiang City.
big.
The prologue and foreshadowing were over. When the Qing army appeared on the other side of the Yuanjiang River, the enemy and we fought fiercely around the two pontoon bridges on the river, marking the official start of the great drama of the Yuanjiang Battle.
The pontoon bridge was deliberately left behind. It seemed to provide convenience to the Qing army, but it could kill a large number of enemies. The Qing army that rushed across the pontoon bridge faced a half-moon-shaped blocking position and would be hit by fire from three sides.
After the Qing army landed, the depth was only a few hundred meters. They could only rely on the river and try to break through with limited forces in a small area.
It was not that Wu Sangui failed to see that the opposite position was easy to defend and difficult to attack, but to attack Yuanjiang City, one must cross the river, and building a bridge was an inevitable task, and the two ready-made pontoon bridges were undoubtedly very attractive. Besides, fighting a war
Nothing is easy, and it is not his character to avoid danger.
As a result, the newly formed "Zhongyong Battalion" was sent up and started a fierce battle with the rebels south of Jiang'an Bridge.
In Wu Sangui's army expansion plan, the surrendered soldiers of the Ming army will be organized into two camps, namely the "Zhongyong Camp" and the "Yiyong Camp". In these two camps, each is divided into center, front, rear, left, and
There are five battalions on the right, a total of ten battalions, each battalion has 1,200 horse infantry. After this organization, each large battalion of "Zhongyong" and "Yiyong" will have 6,000 horse infantry, and the two large battalions will have 10,000 officers and soldiers.
Two thousand people.
Since Zhu Yongxing did not give Wu Sangui time to secure his position and expand his strength, although the "Zhongyong Camp" was established, the "Yiyong Camp" only had two battalions.
However, Wu Sangui did not particularly trust the "loyalty camp" and "volunteer camp" composed of surrendered soldiers and generals. He always let the officers and soldiers of these two battalions follow the brigade and did not dare to let them act alone. Now, it should be a test for these two battalions.
It's time for the battalion officers and soldiers to be loyal, which can further reduce the casualties of Wu Sangui's direct lineage.
This is the sadness and helplessness of surrendering troops and generals. Wu Sangui should have a deep understanding of this. After surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, he worked hard, fought hard, and was ruthless to the enemy to prove his loyalty to the Qing court.
To gain trust, to become Wu Sangui's direct descendant, to become Wu Sangui's confidant, one must have the consciousness to be cannon fodder, the determination to sacrifice, and the ruthlessness to kill with a sword in the name of Paoze.
The five commanders of the "Zhongyong Battalion" are the former Nanming Qishan Hou Wanghui, Yang Wubo and Liaoyu, the former Bai Wenxuan generals Liu Zhifu, Ta Xince, and Sun Chongya who looted when Yongli entered Myanmar. After the surrender
, changed their banners, these people suddenly changed their identities and started selling their lives for the new master. However, the price of this loyalty was blood and lives, and the heavy casualties suffered by the muskets.
Bamboo sticks were laid out in front of the trench, and bamboo spears were placed inside the trench. The river was introduced into the trench. About fifty or sixty meters behind the trench, there were three parapet trenches that were no more than ten meters apart and were in the form of steps from low to high. Each parapet trench was
The defenders inside are staffed with a ratio of one shooter, one shield bearer, and one loader.
Tactics always need to be continuously improved and changed according to the actual situation. One shooter and five loaders. Although this configuration can greatly increase the rate of fire, the trench must be widened or the distance between the shooters must be widened.
The disadvantage of this is either that the firepower density is reduced, or that the projected bows and arrows cause great damage to the soldiers in the widened trench.
The current tactic of multiple stepped trenches effectively avoids the shortcomings mentioned above. The trenches do not need to be dug too wide, and the firepower density can be guaranteed. The muskets in the three trenches can fire in turns to provide continuous firepower.
, the shield hand can also provide protection, which is a very reasonable and efficient configuration.
Of course, this defensive tactic that relies on breastworks and trenches also has a variety of troop configurations, which can be flexibly changed according to the actual situation and the effectiveness.
The Qing soldiers and auxiliary soldiers who rushed ashore along the pontoon first tried to clear the obstacles and fill the trenches, but they were fiercely attacked by muskets dozens of meters in front of the trenches. The shields could not stop the surging lead bullets, and the suppression of bows and arrows was ineffective.
The archers were very large, and the archers soon became weak and exhausted. The attempts to the south, east, and west all ended with heavy casualties. Although the commanders of the Zhongyong Battalion personally guarded the formation and worked very hard, they still could not
get along with.
Wu Sangui ordered his troops to retreat. Although he wanted to use the "Zhongyong Battalion" as cannon fodder, he was still not willing to suffer casualties in vain. Cannon fodder should also be used well to play a greater role! Moreover, Wu Sangui found that this method of attack was of no use, so he had to
To make changes.
First of all, the Hongyi artillery carried by the Qing army cannot bombard across the river, and it is also difficult to transport them across the pontoon bridge; secondly, transporting troops through the pontoon bridge is limited, and the space on the other side is small, making it impossible to deploy troops; the last point is that the protection of armor and shields is insufficient
, and this can be solved.
The Qing army retreated across the river, temporarily giving up its plan to pass through the pontoon bridge, form a breakthrough on the other side, and occupy a stable bridgehead. But this was only temporary. A large number of auxiliary troops were sent to cut down trees, build equipment, and fill earth bags. The next time
The attack will undoubtedly be more ferocious.
"Ladders, shield carts... the attack equipment is nothing more than this." Chen Guogong Wu Zisheng held up a telescope and looked at the movements of the Qing army on the other side. Seeing them building camps and erecting observation towers, they couldn't help but chin their heads slightly and said: "It's quite strict.
Preface, Wu Ni has experienced many battles and has many brave generals under his command, but he needs to be careful in this battle."
"It's a pity that our army has too few artillery." Xu Mingchen shook his head with some regret. The effective weapon against shield vehicles is direct-fire artillery. A solid cannonball hitting it is enough to destroy a shield vehicle and scatter wooden spikes.
It can also cause damage to enemies behind the shield vehicle. (To be continued.)