Chapter 50 Destroying the enemy on the south bank, the three ghosts decide
Zhu Yongxing knows the complexity of night operations. If the enemy and the enemy are mixed, even if you wear markers, it will be difficult to exert your strength advantage. Of course, only God knows what advanced tactics such as interleaving and segmentation can achieve at night. Try to eliminate as much as possible.
Determine the factors, give full play to the superiority of troops, and achieve an upright victory with a overwhelming attitude. This is the strategy Zhu Yongxing will adopt.
"Attack from three sides, advance steadily, and push the enemy to the river bank. In the end, there is no way to retreat. Remember." Zhu Yongxing raised a finger and solemnly reminded: "In addition to wearing signs, the participating troops must also be properly controlled by the generals.
, we must maintain the advancing front and move forward steadily, and we must not rush into the attack and cause chaos and accidental damage. An hour later, the general attack will begin."
"Yes!" all the generals responded in unison.
"Those who surrender will not be killed, and those who abandon their weapons will avoid death." Zhu Yongxing gave the final warning and said with a smile: "Our territory is huge. Mining, land reclamation, and road construction require a lot of labor. The more free labor, the better.
."
The generals laughed knowingly, said goodbye to Zhu Yongxing, and retreated to their respective units to deploy troops.
……………
A swollen white cloud slowly drifted in front of the moon, making the moonlight become hazy and the river seemed to become darker.
Two small boats quietly rowed out from the south bank, taking advantage of the brief darkness to sail towards the river.
Prime Minister Xia glanced back to the south. There were bonfires dotted in the area where the Qing army gathered. There were soldiers and auxiliaries. More than 20,000 people were not a small number. But these people were completely unaware that several generals had quietly left and abandoned them ruthlessly.
got them.
Abandoning the army and absconding! I have been fighting for many years and can be considered a veteran on the battlefield, but I have also been saddled with such a bad reputation. Xia Guoxiang shook his head with a wry smile and withdrew his gaze. Leave the green hills behind and don’t worry about not having firewood. Run away as long as you want, Your Majesty.
You are right, I am both the commander-in-chief and the prince's son-in-law. If I die in battle or be captured, it will be a total loss to the prince's face.
Thinking of this, Xia Guoxiang seemed to have gained some comfort, but his heart was still worried. Escape was not that easy. If he was discovered by an enemy ship on the river, the consequences could be imagined.
Although the Yuanjiang River is in the dry season, the current is still very fast. The two small boats are driven by oars. The sailors did not dare to make too much noise, so they gradually distanced themselves and drifted downstream.
In addition to sailors, each ship could only carry three or four people. In order to keep it secret, Xiang Guoxiang only secretly informed a few old Liaoxi generals with the highest official positions. There was also Wei Pu, who was also Wu Sangui's son-in-law. Wei Pu had been injured and looked down listlessly.
He was leaning on the boat, his eyes were blank, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
The two sailors tried hard to control the direction so that the boat would not deviate too far. But the other boat was unlucky, or the sailors were not capable enough, and it had drifted too far downstream.
A rocket suddenly shot out. A large ship in the river responsible for monitoring the movements of the Qing army apparently discovered something unusual and shot out a rocket to illuminate the observation. The small boat that had drifted too far was discovered. The gong sounded loudly, and two more gongs were fired.
Rockets shot out. The figures on the big ship shook, and then bright lights flashed, and muskets and arrows were fired.
It’s over! Xia Guoxiang bit his lips. Wei Pu and Fu Wenyuan also turned their heads to watch. Although their faces could not be seen clearly, they looked very nervous.
"Pull quickly, quickly." Fu Wenyuan urged repeatedly, his voice trembling.
Because of Zhu Yongxing's order, as long as the Qing army no longer built pontoons, naval ships would no longer block the river at the risk of being bombarded by the Qing army's Hongyi cannons, but would instead focus on surveillance and early warning. Therefore, the ships were spread out more widely.
And they deliberately avoided the area of the river controlled by the Qing army on the south bank.
Only in this way, the navy reduced its losses, but it also gave Xia Guoxiang and others the opportunity to abandon the army and abscond. In the panic, the boat finally stopped suddenly and docked on the shore. Xia Guoxiang let out a sigh of relief and whispered in his ears.
I also heard Fu Wenyuan and Wei Pu breathing heavily as if they had been granted amnesty.
It's just that when Xia Guoxiang was wading ashore, he didn't forget to look back. The other boat had disappeared without a trace, which was obviously in danger. There was a general on board and two commanders of the guard, both of whom were father-in-law.
A former Liaoxi general! He couldn't help but sigh, and felt a cold feeling on his back. It turned out that he was breaking out in a cold sweat.
……………
The sound of artillery suddenly rang out, breaking the silence of the night. The explosions of fire on the south bank burst out one after another, and the earth-shattering shouts of killing could be heard clearly even across the river.
"The pseudo-clan is so vicious that they attack all night regardless of the fatigue of the soldiers." Although Wu Sangui was cursing, his voice sounded weak and frustrated.
That's right, of course Wu Sangui would not just watch his army being wiped out. He secretly picked up Xia Guoxiang and others just in case. He had already sent cavalry along the river to find a suitable place to cross the river. Although there were ships on the river
Intercept and warn, but keep the distance far enough to avoid surveillance. If the ship can find a narrow spot on the river, it may not be impossible to successfully sneak across.
It just took time, and the Ming army's overnight attack on the other side obviously broke Wu Sangui's illusion, so that he could only witness his troops being wiped out. The sadness and helplessness were naturally extremely heavy.
Without the general, the army will collapse quickly; with the general, it is impossible to escape destruction, but it can last longer and cause greater damage to the Ming army. In comparison, Wu Sangui still values the two sons-in-law more
and the life of a general.
"My lord, you should go back to the camp and rest!" Xia Guoxiang had already changed his clothes and was accompanying Wu Sangui. He felt that it was not a good thing to stand here and watch the opposite army being wiped out, so he advised him tactfully.
"Rest?" Wu Sangui shook his head slightly, paused, and said decisively: "Go back to camp, reorganize your troops, and withdraw your troops."
Xia Guoxiang's eyes widened for a moment, but he soon came to his senses and admired his father-in-law's decision.
The campaign to suppress Yuanjiang has failed. Not only can the remaining troops not be able to attack anymore, but they must be prepared for the enemy's counterattack. Camping and not leaving, apart from maintaining some face, is of no use at all, and will take great risks. Waiting for the other side
If the enemy has his hands free, it may not be easy to retreat safely.
Withdrawing troops is the most correct action at present, and it is also an imperative approach. It is better to withdraw than not to withdraw, and it is better to withdraw early than to withdraw late. If you can afford it, let it go. Since you have lost, admit it and face it.
, we can make the most advantageous decision, so why worry about the useless face? If we keep cutting off, there will be future troubles. Wu Sangui understands this sentence deeply and interprets it thoroughly.
The fighting on the other side continued, but Wu Sangui turned around resolutely and left without even looking back.
……………
The general offensive progressed much faster than expected. The Qing army lost the unified command and supervision of the general, and its morale became even more depressed. Under the crushing attack from three sides, it collapsed in less than three hours.
Xia Guoxiang and Wei Pu ran away! A boat on the river intercepted another stowaway boat. Two sailors and a guard commander were killed by muskets and arrows, and the other two Qing generals were made prisoners. After interrogation, Shui
The master then found out that the big fish had been released, so he urgently sent someone to report it.
It is a pity that Zhu Yongxing originally thought of capturing or beheading the two sons-in-law of Wu Sangui, in order to give Wu Sangui a heavy psychological blow, or to humiliate the old traitor. But the matter has come to this, and Zhu Yongxing is more or less responsible.
Therefore, he did not blame the navy for their negligence, but praised them for their efforts in capturing the Qing generals.
After this battle, the strength of the army led by Wu Sangui was greatly reduced. The offensive and defensive momentum was reversed, and it was time to deal with this old traitor. Zhu Yongxing quickly put aside this little regret and began to plan future actions. With the help of ships,
, the total force strength is advantageous, and the options are diverse. You can cross the river in a roundabout way from the upper reaches and cut off the Qing army's retreat; you can also transport troops downstream, return to Mengzi, and attack Shiping; you can also use troops on both wings at the same time.
Attack the Qing army camp in Jiangbei from east to west.
In the early morning, when the overall situation was decided, Zhu Yongxing found a room to sleep and rest under the persuasion of Na Song and others. The Battle of Yuanjiang was finally won, and the Qing army in Jiangbei could no longer pose a threat. Zhu Yongxing, who was determined, slept very soundly.
. He didn’t wake up until daylight. According to the time, it was already past nine o’clock in the morning.
After washing up and eating something casually, Zhu Yongxing began to patrol under the protection of his personal guards.
The sun shines on your body, making you feel warm and comfortable. Yuanjiang is worthy of the reputation of "natural greenhouse" and "Pearl of Ailao", with suitable temperature and pleasant climate.
It's just that the area around Yuanjiang City has just been devastated by the war. Looking around, there are ditches and mounds, scattered trees and branches, broken flags and soldiers, and even corpses that have not been buried yet, making it even more devastated and miserable.
This is war. Destruction is easier than construction. Zhu Yongxing sighed in his heart. Along the way, he saw that many Ming troops had been stationed in their villages, leaving only sentries to patrol. They were obviously still sleeping and resting. Although it was winter, the temperature was still ten degrees.
It was six or seven degrees Celsius, so there was no need to worry about getting cold.
Several generals worked diligently. Although most of the troops were resting, security troops were still dispatched along the river, which made Zhu Yongxing feel reassured and pleased.
Before the prisoners of the Qing army could be screened, the soldiers and auxiliary soldiers were mixed together and detained in several depressions. There were ten or twenty thousand people in total, and the guards were very tight. Once they laid down their weapons and surrendered, the tigers turned into lambs, and Zhu Yongxing fell.
Don't worry about these guys causing trouble.
Any smart politician knows that the most effective way to defeat the enemy is to treat prisoners preferentially. Zhu Yongxing does not dare to call himself a politician, and he does not prepare any preferential treatment. But he can still do it without killing prisoners, or killing as few prisoners as possible.
Did it.
What's more, the free labor he and other generals talked about was not a joke. Mining in Yunnan is developed, and to support the cause of resisting the Qing Dynasty, mining and smelting must be expanded. Should we cut off the happy ones with a knife, or let the guilty ones serve fixed-term or indefinite hard labor?
, create value to atone for sins. As long as you think carefully with your mind, it is not difficult to choose between the two.
Suffering from wars and a lack of population, this is a long-standing problem. If there is a sufficient population, Zhu Yongxing is absolutely sure to engulf Annan, then immigrate to enrich it, and change the proportion of personnel in the occupied area. But now, he can only demolish the east wall to make up for the west.
wall, and use the puppet regime to slowly digest it.
"Your Highness, King Ruyang is here." Yang Guoxiang pulled the horse's head, approached Zhu Yongxing, and reminded him.
Zhu Yongxing nodded slightly, reined in his horse and rushed towards Ma Bao and others.
"See Your Highness." Ma Bao and others dismounted first and bowed to salute.
"No courtesy." Zhu Yongxing smiled kindly, jumped off the horse, and said: "I came at a bad time, so you can hardly rest."
"Your Highness is serious." Ma Bao said with a smile: "When I am in good health, even if I don't sleep for a few days, it will be fine. Your Highness, please come to the camp and rest for a while."
"No." Zhu Yongxing waved his hand and said, "As soon as I enter the camp, don't make any more noise and miss the rest of the soldiers."
"Well, how about I go on inspection with His Highness later?" Ma Bao obviously had something to do, but there were so many people there that it seemed difficult to speak.
"Very good." Zhu Yongxing smiled and nodded, remounted his horse, and continued his inspection accompanied by Ma Bao, Ma Weixing and other generals.
As they walked and watched, the team pulled away. Seeing that this was an opportunity, Ma Bao moved his horse forward, half a horse's head behind Zhu Yongxing. He bowed and said, "Your Highness, Mr. Guang Guo will be responsible for his negligence in the end.
Please, Your Majesty, punish me."
Zhu Yongxing did not turn around immediately, but just hummed slightly, paused for a long time, and then slowly said: "Although Mr. Guang Guo is guilty of deception, he is not in fact collaborating with the enemy. I saw the report of the Military Intelligence Department on the road.
A small punishment but a big warning! As for the crime of negligence, is King Ruyang an excuse? He must be trying to defend Duke Guang, right? Haha."
Ma Bao looked at Zhu Yongxing's smile and felt certain in his heart. He couldn't help but blush and hold up his hands, "Your Highness is very aware of everything. You can see through this little thought at a glance."
"A ruthless man may not be a true hero, and a pity for a son is not a husband." Zhu Yongxing turned around and said with emotion: "When I read history books, I deeply felt that the famous Southern Song Dynasty general Li Xianzhong was affectionate, loyal, and fearless. He would rather take the risk of being punished.
He wanted to bring back his married wife from Jindi. However, Li Xianzhong traveled thousands of miles south to defect to his homeland. With a knife in his hand, he captured the enemy chief alone. He defended the city, but the enemy corpses were like mountains; he "finished the affairs of the king and the world, and won his reputation during his lifetime." He served the country with loyalty, and there was no writing
It's on his back, but it's written on his heart."
"The last general is willing to serve Li Xianzhong and serve the country with loyalty." Ma Bao responded enthusiastically. After a pause, he lowered his tone and added: "I will help His Highness achieve great achievements for a long time, and the last general will not hesitate even to the death."
This was so explicit that Zhu Yongxing smiled knowingly and said with appreciation: "Li Xianzhong was born in Suide, and the King of Ruyang was also a hero in Gansu and Shaanxi. It is his lifelong ambition to imitate Li Xianzhong or even surpass him. In troubled times, it is precisely to turn things around.
When a good man shows his talents and leaves his name in history..."
Zhu Yongxing stopped talking and rode on Yangchen, who was galloping towards this side from the river. Not knowing what had happened to the military situation, he turned to look at each other.
Everyone also waited silently, with different guesses in their minds and solemn expressions on their faces.
The approaching rider rolled off his saddle and dismounted, saluted and reported: "Your Highness, the ships on the river have come to report that the Qing army in the north of the Yangtze River seems to have retreated. Thousands of cavalry have just left the camp, and they seem to be the rear troops."
Zhu Yongxing couldn't help being stunned, and looked at each other with Ma Bao. Ma Bao was also surprised and showed a surprised expression.
"Let's go and have a look." Zhu Yongxing had doubts about the "seemingly" and "seemingly" said by the signal corpsmen, so he simply tried to see for sure.
The group of people turned their horses' heads one after another, followed Zhu Yongxing, and ran towards the river.
When they arrived at the riverside, more than a dozen simple trestles had been repaired, and ships were docked on the shore. Zhu Yongxing and others boarded a large ship, slowly sailed away, and moved to the other side.
In the field of vision of the telescope, the flag of the Qing army's Jiangbei camp was still there, and there were figures standing behind the wall, but almost none moved.
Zhu Yongxing was confused, but he couldn't be sure immediately. He put down the telescope and handed it to Ma Weixing.
Ma Bao kept holding the telescope for observation, and muttered speculatively: "Something is wrong, it seems like a false flag."
Ma Weixing looked at it for a while and then passed the telescope to other generals. He shook his head slightly and said, "General Yimou will see that it is probably an empty camp."
The boat stopped near the shore, and everyone looked more carefully and clearly. Although they all suspected that it was an empty camp, no one dared to be sure easily.
"Send someone to do some reconnaissance!" Ma Bao turned to Zhu Yongxing and asked for instructions: "Send a few more boats over and send a few cavalry ashore. If there is any fraud, we can help them get on the boat and leave."
Zhu Yongxing hesitated for a moment and nodded lightly. This mission is very dangerous. It is said to be a ship reception. If there is an ambush in the camp, some of the scout cavalry will probably die. However, there is nothing that can be done about it. Determine the Qing army's location as soon as possible.
situation, we can make response plans as soon as possible.
After a lot of trouble, half an hour had passed. Zhu Yongxing held up his binoculars and finally saw a signal from the reconnaissance cavalry. There was even a bold guy who climbed up the village tower and kicked down the Qing army's flag.
Go down.
"Sure enough, it was an empty camp." Zhu Yongxing rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief, "Wu Ni actually withdrew like this. It's really, really unexpected. Is there another plot to attack our army?"
"I'm afraid this is unlikely." Ma Bao thought for a while and said: "Nearly half of the enemy's army has been lost and they have lost their ability to attack. It is probably because they were afraid that our army would complete its reorganization and cross the river to attack, so they retreated overnight."
"If I were the commander-in-chief of the Qing army, I would retreat if I saw that something was wrong." Ma Weixing said, "But if I were to be as decisive as Wu Ni, I couldn't do it."
Zhu Yongxing thought for a while and figured it out. Retreating is undoubtedly the best choice for Wu Sangui at the moment, which not only preserves his strength but also gets out of danger. It is estimated that he will be stationed in Shiping and aim at Yuanjiang. If the Ming army goes to attack, then
The situation of host and guest has changed, and it is not easy to win. What's more, Wu Sangui may receive reinforcements, and there is also the possibility of changes in the balance of troops.
"It's a pity that I thought about it for a long time last night and already had several plans to attack Wu Ni." Zhu Yongxing smiled bitterly and shook his head sadly, "It's all useless now. Wu Ni will be cut off when he needs it, but I despise him.
Already."
"Although Wu Ni is decisive, after this battle, he has become discouraged. When he sees His Highness Wang Banner in the future, he will have no intention of fighting." Prince Ma Bao of Ruyang complimented.