Chapter 44: Zhang Yong, a famous general of the Qing army
Regarding the dispatch of troops to Tengchong to annihilate the Southern Ming Dynasty's left-behind Prince Min, Zhang Yong's mood was contradictory. He was a little hopeful, but also a little dissatisfied. What he hoped for was that if the attack went smoothly, the Ming army could be defeated or captured.
The Nanming clan has made tremendous contributions, and the military exploits I personally made in the past are nothing compared to this.
Naturally, the Qing government had a guilty conscience when foreigners invaded the Central Plains. Therefore, they always paid the most attention to the clans of the Ming Dynasty, believing that they were where the people's hearts rested. Only by killing them mercilessly could future troubles be eliminated.
But Zhang Yong's dissatisfaction is not new today. Ever since Wu Sangui ordered him to lead his troops to stay in Yongchang, he had a grudge in his heart. There are many good soldiers in the Gansu and Shaanxi Green Camps, but it is not enough to guard Yongchang if they are not strong enough.
In order to frighten and kill the remnants of the Southern Ming Dynasty who fled to the west of Yunnan Province. Bah, why don't you leave your own Han army here? You have a sectarian mentality, and the dirty work, tiring work, and hard work are all left to outsiders.
In order to preserve one's own strength.
Zhang Yong is right to think so. At this time, the Qing government's arrangements for Wu Sangui and others have not yet been decided, and he has not yet had time to win over useful people. The climate in Yunnan is hot and humid, and miasma is everywhere. The three Qing troops from Sichuan to Guizhou arrived in Yunnan.
The journey was long and full of hardships. Although the Ming army in the southwest was swept across, it also suffered considerable losses. Wu Sangui could not command the Manchurian troops, and he had to try to preserve his own troops. Naturally, he had to leave the hard work to non-direct troops.
The Green Battalion from Gansu and Shaanxi led by Zhang Yong traveled thousands of miles to Yunnan. They experienced countless battles and small battles. Coupled with the unsuitable climate and the plague, their strength was also reduced. However, Wu Sangui ordered them to guard Yongchang and kill the remnants of the Nanming army.
They were asked to return to Kunming to rest and recuperate. No wonder Zhang Yong and other Gansu and Shaanxi soldiers felt resentful.
Wu Sangui gave the order, and Zhang Yong could only bow and obey even if he was dissatisfied. Of course, the great success of capturing and killing the Ming Dynasty clan also had a great temptation for him and his subordinates. But the troops and horses were not moved, and the food and grass went first.
When setting out to conquer the frontier famine, the supply of food and wages was particularly important. Zhang Yong raised funds on the spot and asked Kunming for prompt payment.
Due to the war, Yunnan was greatly damaged, and it was very difficult for Zhang Yong to raise food and grass on the spot. Until Wu Sangui sent the first batch of food and wages from Kunming and transferred 3,000 soldiers and horses from Dali, he decided to lead his army to fight immediately.
Time has been delayed. According to the latest spying information, the puppet left-behind forces have gathered a lot of remnant troops. Their strength is getting stronger day by day. A small force of the Ming army has also appeared in Gaoligong Mountain. What is more urgent is that the rainy season is coming.
When the water in the Nu River rises in May, another big and inevitable trouble will inevitably arise.
Yongchang is an important town in western Yunnan and must not be missed. Zhang Yong left 4,000 troops to defend the city, of which nearly 1,000 were soldiers who had been infected with various diseases during this period. He led more than 9,000 soldiers and forced levies
There were more than 5,000 auxiliary soldiers, totaling more than 15,000 people, leaving Yongchang, crossing the Nu River, and heading towards Tengchong to kill.
The Nujiang River and Gaoligong Mountain are two natural barriers to protect Tengchong. Attacking halfway across the river is also a common method used by military strategists. However, Zhu Yongxing first gave up his plan to block the Qing army in the Nujiang River. Because he did not have enough troops to guard every ferry, he also
It is not clear which ferry the Qing army will set off from.
But Gaoligong Mountain cannot be given up easily, and it is a very suitable place for defending and blocking one side. If the Qing army wants to reach Tengchong, it must climb over the Gaoligong Mountain that blocks Tengchong. The mountain range that blocks Tengchong has an altitude of 3,770 meters.
800 meters long, the only three passes are covered with snow all year round and rarely visited.
Nanzhai Gongfang, Beizhai Gongfang, and a mahogany tree. These three passes are the only way to Tengchong from the east of the Nujiang River to the west of the Nujiang River. In later generations, the expedition officers and soldiers relied on their passion to fight in a pool of blood.
He fought tenaciously and finally won the battle of Gaoligong Mountain at a high price. Zhu Yongxing, who had watched the documentary "Expeditionary Army", was deeply impressed by this, and no one will easily forget that period of history written in blood.
Now, the roles were reversed. Zhu Yongxing commanded the Ming army to build fortifications at several precipitous areas on these three ancient post roads, determined to make the Qing army bleed like a river in this difficult upward attack. Historically, the expeditionary army attacked from the upper side.
The battle at Li Gong Mountain lasted for forty days and cost nearly 10,000 casualties before breaking through the stubborn defense of 2,000 Japanese troops. What's more, in the era of cold weapons, attacking fortresses was a nightmare for the attackers anyway.
The only thing that worries Zhu Yongxing is the morale and fighting spirit of the Nanming army that has just surrendered. No matter how good the layout is, no matter how strong the fortifications are, they still need people to guard them, and they also need tenacious and brave soldiers. If these conditions are not met, everything will
It's all empty talk and fantasy.
After all, Zhu Yongxing had never seen the Nanming army fighting with his own eyes, so he also made preparations just in case, that is, he made some adjustments to the troops and generals, and divided the 2,000 men of the Mengshan Ke tribe into several hundred men.
team, acting as a temporary firefighting team. The five hundred personal guards around him were half Yang Guoxiang's people and half were young men from the Mengshan Ke tribe led by Yang.
"If we can persist until the rainy season, the Qing army will have no choice but to return in defeat, unless there is something wrong with Zhang Yong's head." At this time, Zhu Yongxing was standing on the gray slope of the only way to reach the top of Gaoligong Mountain, pointing to the surroundings.
The terrain said: "This will be the first position for confrontation with the Qing army. I will personally take the position and give the enemy a head-on attack."
"How could His Highness, with his wealth of gold, be easily involved in danger?" Zhu Yongxing did not expect that the first person to jump out to stop him and volunteer to fight was actually Zhang Guangcui. He seemed to be very confident about the favorable terrain here, and he seemed to be quite eager to make contributions.
He stepped forward and said loudly: "Let me lead the troops in this first battle. Even if I die here, I will never take a step back."
"General Zhang is loyal and brave, I admire him very much." Zhu Yongxing smiled and nodded, and said: "Just fight hard. I don't require you to fight to the death. Why does General Zhang have to die for the country? He should be useful in the future.
I’m still of great use.”
"Yes, Your Highness is kind, and he dares to die in repayment of his humble position. I will certainly do it, and I will definitely keep him useful for His Highness." Zhang Guangcui's face showed a touch and excitement, and he bowed and saluted.
After Li Dingguo put down Sun Kewang's rebellion, he stood on the right team at the critical moment and helped Li Dingguo turn the tide. It was natural to reward according to merit. With rewards, there must be punishments. Many generals, including Zhang Guangcui, Di Sanpin, Wang Hui and others, waited and watched with suspicion.
, expressed his position late and was punished with a demotion for being "party-affiliated".