The Chuang Army was claimed to be one million people, but in reality it was only about half a million.
Of course, if you include the soldiers and horses left behind in Henan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi, there are really nearly a million.
These millions of people are not only good and bad, but also disorganized.
Although Li Zicheng reorganized things at Chang'an at the suggestion of Li Yan, he only unified the logistics of the army.
The independence of each department is still very strong, and it is only slightly stronger than when the battalions were united before.
For example, among the 500,000 troops in the capital, Li Zicheng only had 200,000 true direct troops.
Among them, the most elite one hundred thousand were commanded by his nephew Li Guo, and the remaining one hundred thousand were commanded by several old brothers from the past.
Then there are Liu Zongmin and Liu Fangliang who are the most powerful. The former has an army of 100,000, and the latter has expanded his army to 200,000 in Baoding.
Fortunately, both of them were loyal to Li Zicheng.
Then there is the Red Lady. When the Red Lady and Li Yan launched an uprising in Henan and later defected to King Chuang, they had already gathered tens of thousands of troops. It was precisely because of the two joining that the strength of the Chuang Army greatly increased.
Since the Northern Expedition, although King Chuang suppressed her openly and covertly, the Red Lady's team still expanded to more than 80,000.
Coupled with Li Yan, who knew military affairs well, the Red Detachment of Women had the most strict discipline and the highest combat effectiveness among the entire army.
Finally, there were surrendered troops and generals, as well as bandit and bandit leaders, large and small. There were hundreds of them scattered here and there, and the total number of men and horses was almost 200,000.
In short, no matter who comes to join Lao Li, he welcomes them. He can become an official as big as he brings and continues to command the people he brings.
Apart from taking care of the food, he has nothing. Only if he has done meritorious deeds, will he be rewarded with some wealth, women and even weapons.
It is precisely because of this loose and liberal policy that the Chuang Army grew from eighteen riders to one million in a short period of time.
This is also the reason why Li Yan always insisted on negotiating peace and returning to Chang'an for rectification.
This is also the reason why the generals hate him.
At this moment, the army was divided, and the strength and weakness were seen, and the many weaknesses of the invading army were also exposed.
The whole camp was in chaos. The 80,000 troops led by the Red Lady gathered and headed north, barely able to maintain their formation.
Liu Zongmin's 100,000-strong army left the main camp. Except for more than 10,000 elite confidants, the rest of the troops were completely herded. It was obvious that they had not been trained seriously at all.
It was not until dusk the next day that the army finally completed the siege of the capital on three sides, and then began to fill in the moat while building siege equipment.
The moat outside the capital is up to a hundred meters wide at its widest point, and the average width is about forty meters. It would take more than half a month for even a million people to fill it all in.
Therefore, only one section of the three sides was selected for landfill. During the landfill period, the defenders on the top of the city would naturally not watch.
Those with bows shot arrows, those with cannons fired cannons, and those without cannons fired blunderbuss. The invading army also sent people to set off cannons and archery to provide cover.
However, the Ming army's artillery and muskets frequently exploded, which caused morale to be low. No one dared to use it, and there were not many bows and arrows. Zhou Yuji finally ordered to ignore it and let the rebels fill it up.
Seeing this, the invading army no longer wasted artillery, bows and arrows.
The two sides were at a stalemate.
at the same time.
Shanhaiguan.
A group of soldiers and civilians, old and young, were pouring into Shanhaiguan from the east.
"Second brother, this is the last batch."
"Um!"
At this moment, on Guan City, a burly and handsome young general wearing chainmail looked at the few soldiers and civilians under Guan City and let out a heavy breath.
This person is Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan in the Ming Dynasty.
Ten days ago, after receiving Zhu Cihong's imperial edict, he directly abandoned Ningyuan City and the large area of land east of Shanhaiguan, and retreated to Shanhaiguan with more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians.
In fact, without Zhu Cixiang's order, Wu Sangui also planned to abandon Ningyuan City and retreat, because Ningyuan had become an isolated city, and he would definitely die if he stayed there.
Once surrounded, it is impossible for the customs to send reinforcements to rescue.
If the non-chief asked Huang Taiji to die suddenly, there would be unrest within the Jiannu, and he was worried that Chongzhen would be held responsible for abandoning the land, Wu Sangui would have run away last year.
Half a month ago, Dorgon, the regent of the slaves, began to assemble troops on a large scale after taking over the power. In addition, Zhu Cixiang issued an order. How could Wu Sangui still want to stay in the dead city of Ningyuan?
"Report, Marshal, there is a man outside the customs who calls himself Fan and wants to see him. He said he has the Marshal's family letter on him."
A CEO Qian trotted along the stairs and came to Wu Sangui, knelt down on one knee and worshiped.
"Take people to the Earl's Palace first!"
When Wu Sangui heard this, he waved his hands calmly, apparently having guessed who the visitor was.
After Mr. Qian went down, the third brother Wu Sangui whispered: "Second brother, the family letter from outside Guan, could it be my uncle...?"
The fourth brother Wu Sanfu also whispered: "Second brother, could it be that Jiannu wants to...?"
"Don't guess!"
Wu Sangui's face was serious, and he looked around cautiously, then turned and walked towards the city.
The two brothers also hurriedly followed.
In the hall.
Wu Sangui had already changed into a set of regular clothes, picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then looked at the middle-aged scribe who was doing it, and said coldly:
"Fan Wencheng, you are so brave. Aren't you afraid that I will tie you up and send you to the capital to ask for merit?"
"Haha, General Wu is joking. At this moment, it is still unclear whether Chongzhen or Li Chuang is sitting on the dragon chair in the imperial palace in the capital, right?"
Fan Wencheng chuckled, picked up the teacup and took a sip before speaking in a leisurely manner, with no trace of fear on his face.
"Be bold!"
Wu Sangui slammed the table and said angrily, knocking all the teacups to the ground.
"General Wu, please calm down. I'm here mainly to deliver a message to the General's mother-in-law and uncle..."
Fan Wencheng still took out a letter from his arms unhurriedly.
"snort!"
Wu Sangui snorted coldly, took the letter from his third brother and read it.
It wasn't until he finished reading that Fan Wencheng continued: "General Wu, General Zu always talks about you and looks forward to being reunited with you all the time!
My regent also often praised General Wu, saying that the general was the most famous general in the Ming Dynasty, but it was a pity that Chongzhen was short-sighted. He also said that if there was such a famous general under his command, who was both wise and brave, why would he not be able to control this great country?"
"Hmph! I think your regent is not talking about Wu, but Shanhaiguan!" Wu Sangui sneered.
"General Wu, we Ming people will not talk secretly. Now that Li Chuang is advancing on the capital with millions of people, whether the Ming Dynasty can stop it, the general must know better than me. The Ming Dynasty is already in danger."
"Wherever our Qing Dynasty iron cavalry goes, no one can stop us. The force of our troops is so fierce that we can leap through the Central Plains and unify China. It's only a matter of time."
"As the saying goes, a good bird chooses a tree to roost in, and a good minister chooses his master to serve. The destiny lies in the Qing Dynasty, not in the Ming Dynasty, nor in the Shun Dynasty. It must not be difficult to see with the wisdom of a general!
If the general is willing to abandon the secrets and surrender to the Qing Dynasty, my regent is willing to treat him with a royal title and promise the general to break the earth and open a palace."
"hiss!"
Wu Sangui and Wu Sanfu on the side took a breath of air and their eyes went straight.
Wu Sangui was also trembling, and his throat felt dry.
But then he adjusted himself and said with a solemn face: "Don't talk nonsense, loyal ministers have nothing to do with the two masters. I, Wu Sangui, have been deeply favored by the emperor. I was born as a man of the Ming Dynasty and died as a ghost of the Ming Dynasty. He wants me to join the Qing Dynasty.
Absolutely impossible!"
"General Wu..."
"There is no need to say more. If the two countries are at war, the envoy will not be killed. I will not argue with you this time. Please come back!"
Wu Sangui waved his hand, interrupting Fan Wencheng's continued temptation.
Fan Wencheng also knew that for people like Wu Sangui, if he refused to surrender, no matter how much he said, it would be superfluous, so he had to stand up and leave.
"Second brother, I'm afraid Ming Dynasty is really going to end this time. I think the conditions for Dole to get out can be considered."
"Yes, second brother. That little emperor is too stingy. He only named his second brother Ping Xibo. Look at him, Dole Gun."
As soon as Fan Wencheng left, the two brothers gathered around and said anxiously.
"I'm confused. Although the conditions for Dorr to get out are good, they are just pictures on paper. If he doesn't fulfill them, what can we do?" Wu Sangui cursed.
"Second brother, what should we do? The intruders are coming in force this time. Do you really want to lead troops to King Qin?"
"What can we do if we don't go? Shanhaiguan is no better than other places. Once the capital is gone and the money and food are cut off, we have only two choices, either to be slaves to Dorgun or to surrender to Li Zicheng."
"But neither of these two options is a good choice. Then Li Zicheng's army of millions is not inferior to our soldiers. Once he surrenders, even if he can get high-ranking officials and generous salaries, he will be ostracized and unhappy everywhere."
"Not to mention the Manchus. Although they may be reused in the beginning, the final outcome will definitely be to kill the donkey and be accused of being a traitor."
"But if we can defeat the invading army and save the capital, the imperial court can continue to collect taxes, and Jiangnan's money, food and materials will be continuously supplied to us.
And we can raise more soldiers and horses, and His Majesty will only rely on us more. Your second brother and I will also have higher and higher official positions. Wouldn't it be more satisfying than being a slave to the Manchu Qing Dynasty and surrendering to Li Zicheng? Not to mention my father and Yuan Yuan.
Yuan is also in the capital!"
When Wu Sangui finished speaking, his eyes also glowed with inexplicable brilliance.
There was one thing he didn't say, that is, who will be named in the world in three to five years, and who can decide?
"Second brother, this is good, but the intruder is said to be worth millions, and all the soldiers from all over the country have not come to visit the king."
"The intruders are just bluffing. They can't have millions. Besides, we are not fighting head-on. The walls of the capital are strong and tall. How can they be so easy to break through?
Once we are unable to attack for a long time, our morale will definitely drop. Even if there are a million people, they are just a ragtag group. I have 20,000 cavalry in hand, so why should I be afraid?"
Wu Sangui said disdainfully.
Obviously he also knew the details of the Chuang army. As long as the capital could hold out for a month, he would be sure to defeat the Chuang army, break the siege of the capital, and achieve a world-class feat.
"Second brother, do you want to take away all the cavalry?" Wu Sangui was shocked.
"Yes, this time my fourth brother will go with me to King Qin. Third brother, you stay behind. Thirty thousand infantry are enough to guard Shanhaiguan!"
Remember, we must not relax and give the Manchus an opportunity to take advantage of it. Shanhaiguan is the foundation of our brothers and must not be lost, otherwise everything will be lost!"
Wu Sangui ordered with a solemn expression.
"Second brother, don't worry. If the city is alive and the people are there, if the city dies, people will die. Brother, I guarantee that nothing will be lost."
Wu Sangui patted her chest.
After some more warnings, Wu Sangui led 20,000 Guan Ning cavalry on the next day and marched toward the capital in a mighty manner. However, most of them were led by horses, and they could only march more than ten miles in one day.
