On the roads, in the ditches, and on the rivers, there were advancing men and horses, infantry, artillery, and cavalry everywhere, noisily and noisily, rushing towards the land of Liaozhong.
The soldiers shouted slogans, waved their guns, and dragged the mules and horses that refused to go, rushing up the road paved with branches, making a crackling sound. The mules and horses gasped, dragging the artillery cart, and the horses and mules beside them The artillerymen worked hard together. Groups of scout cavalry ran past the troops in small groups, with the clatter of horse hooves.
As soon as Jinzhou was reached, although the main force of the Qing army was not wiped out, the road to the Liaozhong Plain was opened. The Dangshuo army joined forces with the landing reinforcements, continued to advance eastward, and easily captured Guangning County (now Panshan County). , controlled the mouth of the Liao River. Subsequently, the army advanced on both land and water, advancing boldly northward. Shenyang seemed to have become the next target of attack.
Yes, the Dangshuo Army did not continue to advance eastward and attack the Qing Army Group in Gaizhou with the main force of the Northeast Military Region, but the posture it made was not only a threat to Shenyang, but also a larger roundabout encirclement. Whether it was to recover Tai'an County and then take the eastward Anshan; still attack Liaozhong County, and then attack Liaoyang. The retreat route of the Gaizhou Qing Army Group will be cut off.
If Dang Shuo's army is advancing so far, will there be any worry that the Qing army in Gaizhou will retreat and then turn west, cutting off the food route? This situation exists in theory, but in practice it is absolutely impossible. Unless The Qing army in Gaizhou was able to defeat the hundreds of thousands of troops from the Northeast Military Region in front of them, making them unable to pursue them. Otherwise, they would have to be pushed back by the Ming army in the Northeast Military Region. Retreat, retreat. Anshan, Liaoyang, or even retreat directly to Shenyang.
Judging from the current situation, the Qing army group in Gaizhou has been exhausted in two or three months with insufficient replenishment. It is a fluke not to be defeated by the Ming army in the front. How can it still have the ability to defeat one side first? , and then attack the other side.
The Ming army also saw through the Qing Dynasty's lack of troops. It also relied on the combat power of tens of thousands of troops, so it dared to march forward boldly and force the enemy to overwhelm the enemy. At the same time, through the quick communication by sea, the Ming army groups around Gaizhou would also take Corresponding military operations include taking the initiative to attack and hold back the Qing army, or deploying mobile forces to pursue the enemy bravely when they retreat.
"The weather is getting hotter and hotter, which is perfect for the southern army to fight!" Xia Guoxiang rode on the horse, unbuttoned his clothes, and raised his whip with great enthusiasm, "Despite his small stature, his endurance is something to be proud of."
"This is a biased statement. Can't the northern soldiers travel long distances?" Wei Pu shook his head and objected, "More than a hundred miles. If we march lightly and quickly, one day and one night is enough."
"I do have such an idea." Xia Guoxiang smiled bitterly and said: "But with the current situation, there is no doubt about victory. If you are defeated because of greed for merit and rashness, it will shake up the government and the public, and everyone will be killed."
"It's not easy to kill them all, but this reputation is ruined." Wei Pu understood the difficulties of Prime Minister Xia very well. If you are at a disadvantage, you will lose. But the Ming army has always used force to suppress others. If you don't fight, you will lose. In the battle of certainty, after winning many battles, news of a failure suddenly appears, which is indeed too conspicuous.
"The Tartars have no intention of fighting to the death, and they have lost such an opportunity." Xia Guoxiang said with some contempt: "They are pampering themselves in the Central Plains. Eight Banners soldiers, they are degenerating so fast! In this situation, from the emperor to The ministers and the people all hope to win this battle steadily and without any setbacks. Therefore, we would rather be conservative than take risks."
"That's true." Wei Pu was a little reluctant, but he nodded in agreement, pondered for a moment, and said: "By steadily regaining the lost territory in Liaodong, the emperor's heart will be temporarily settled. I estimate that most of it will be attrition and blockade.
Lord, if we continue to advance north, the logistical pressure will be too great."
"It takes a lot of management before we can have the strength to plow the courtyard, sweep holes, and sweep away the remnants." Xia Guoxiang pointed at the Liao River in the distance with his whip and said: "Without the advantage of the navy and relying on land transportation alone, this battle will not be easy to fight.
I estimate that the first is consumption and blockade, the second is training the cavalry, and finally the thunder strike."
"Cavalry should indeed be the main force in future battles." Wei Pu nodded in agreement, "Whether it is hussars or dragon cavalry, if there are tens of thousands of cavalry, the Tartars will not be able to run away as easily as now."
"Yes, if the infantry fights the cavalry, if they lose, the whole army will be annihilated. If they win, they will be unable to catch up." Xia Guoxiang was also helpless, "Actually, it is good that the infantry can fight the cavalry like this."
"I heard that after the Liao Dynasty, the troops in the Northeast were to be reorganized. I wonder what they would be like?" Wei Pu felt that Xia Guoxiang should know more than he did.
"The Ministry of War is still discussing and has not yet made a final decision." Xia Guoxiang paused and said: "It is also to adapt to the Liaodong operation, and adjustments must be made according to the situation of the Tartars. It is probably to be organized into a mixed brigade with infantry, artillery, cavalry, and transport troops.
It is fully equipped and has about 8,000 to 10,000 soldiers, capable of going out into battle."
Wei Pu thought for a moment and said: "To recover the lost territory in Liaodong, it is natural to divide the troops and garrison them. This mixed brigade is smaller than the division, so it can defend several more points. In addition, if we attack in turns, even if we retreat when encountering a strong enemy, we will not be able to defend it.
It will make the Tartars exhausted and defensive, instead of resting."
"Yes, that's what the Ministry of War has in mind." Xia Guoxiang nodded and agreed with Wei Pu's analysis, "It is also a good strategy to manage Liaodong while harassing and consuming the Tartars and training the army in turns.
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"I wonder if the Dangshuo Army will be reorganized according to this?" Wei Pu said with some worry: "I don't know whether the Dangshuo Army will eventually belong to the Beijing Military Region or the Northeast Military Region. I heard that the Holy Emperor is going to establish a military commission, His Highness Wei
I usually have the idea of retreating bravely, but if I join the Ministry of War this time, who will take over as the top commander of the Beijing Military Region?"
"His Royal Highness Wei will probably not leave the Beijing Military Region for the time being. After all, he has great trust in the Holy Emperor. How can Jifu land not have a trusted general to lead the army?"
, I will definitely be transferred back to Rongyang after Dingliao. In this way"
Hu Guozhu is currently the deputy commander-in-chief of the Northeast Military Region. If Pi Xiong is transferred, he is very likely to take over. But if the Dangshuo Army belongs to the Northeast Military Region, the arrangements for Xia Guoxiang will be a bit troublesome. Logically speaking, his rank is higher than that of Hu Guozhu.
, Hu Guozhu was also transferred from the Dangshuo Army and was his general. It was obviously unreasonable for him to condescend to obey orders.
Moreover, Xia Guoxiang and Hu Guozhu were both related by marriage and from the same family. He could never say anything about fighting for power in front of Wei Pu.