As soon as the red lady returned, the 300,000 troops were all excited, not afraid of the battle, but excited.
Because after this battle, everyone will get the land they dream of. Ordinary soldiers will have ten acres. If they kill the enemy and perform meritorious service, the reward will be calculated separately.
Now everyone in the army is convinced by the Red Lady's words. After the last war, it was true that money and land were rewarded to every soldier as promised.
Even those who died in battle were clearly recorded in the military merit roll, and rewards were given to their families after the war.
Nearly 300,000 soldiers come from all over the country. Which one of them is not a veteran who has been fighting hard for several years?
In the past, they were in a state of confusion, whether they were rebels or soldiers, just to make ends meet. It wasn't that they didn't want to fight hard or didn't dare to fight hard, but that it wasn't worth fighting for.
They are not those servants. Whether it is for their own commander or for the so-called imperial court, it is not worth risking their lives.
But now almost everyone is willing to risk their lives for the Empress and Your Majesty, and they dare to fight for it, because the rewards they get make it worth their lives to fight for it.
The temptation of the land to these soldiers is far beyond everyone's imagination.
Life is like grass in troubled times. They have seen too many human tragedies and too many families destroyed and people killed.
If it is for their own future, they are never afraid to work hard, but their future never gives them the opportunity to work hard.
Now the opportunity is right in front of them, and no one wants to miss it. Ten acres of land will be tax-free for three years, plus military pay and silver rewards, which is enough for them to start a family and start a business, and live the life they dreamed of before.
As each man was once again given two taels of silver in military pay in advance, the morale of the entire army reached its peak.
In the state government office.
The six generals sat opposite each other, and behind them and in the courtyard outside were filled with generals of all sizes, no less than two hundred in total.
If ordinary soldiers and low-level generals only want land and money, then what these mid-level and high-level generals want is a real future.
"Everyone, Shanhaiguan has been captured by General Wu and General Huang, and the Tatar food route has been cut off. Therefore, regardless of victory or defeat in this battle, the Tatars must retreat!
Here, I would like to remind those who want to preserve their strength and are greedy for life and fear death. Even if I die in battle and my entire army of 300,000 is wiped out, there will still be more than 100,000 troops in the capital.
Whoever dares to escape from the battlefield and disobey orders, even if he escapes to the ends of the earth, with His Majesty's talent and strategy, he will be investigated to the end, his home will be confiscated, and his clan will be exterminated!
And as long as you fight bravely to kill the enemy, even if all your troops and horses are exhausted, after the Tatars retreat, I and Your Majesty will definitely reward you based on your merits. Even if you die for your country, your sons will be able to inherit their father's legacy!"
The red lady said with a cold face.
After speaking, his eyes swept over the faces of Liu Zeqing, Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo, and Wu Sanfu one by one.
The first three were all old foxes. Although they felt guilty when facing the red lady's gaze, their faces showed that they would fight to the death.
But Wu Sanfu was a little younger, less than twenty. When he was stared at by the red lady's eyes that seemed to see through everything, he suddenly lost his mind. He stood up hurriedly and worshiped: "Your Majesty, I will never run away from the battle. I vow to fight with the Tartars."
I will fight to the bitter end to repay the favor of my country!"
"I vow to fight the Tatars to the bitter end in order to repay the country's favor!"
More than two hundred generals and the other five generals inside and outside the hall also knelt down on one knee and shouted in unison.
"good!"
"Tomorrow the army will prepare food at the third watch, cross the river at the fifth watch, and fight to the death with Jian Nu!"
"Fight to the death!"
"Fight to the death!"
The red lady quickly stood up, and everyone raised their fists in the air. Even Cao Huachun on the side was screamed by the chilling atmosphere.
Early the next morning, as the army began to cross the river along hundreds of pontoon bridges, Dorgon also led a horse infantry with more than 200,000 troops approaching thirty miles north of Tongzhou and setting up camp.
When he learned that all the Ming troops had crossed the canal, Dorgon almost fainted from anger.
"Sir, we have been fooled!"
"If we wait another half month, no, as long as ten days, the little emperor will definitely take the initiative to attack or directly flee south! Alas..."
Dorgon beat his chest and felt remorseful.
Hong Chengchou was silent. He never expected that the little emperor was at the end of his rope.
And it was obvious that they were about to run out of food, otherwise they would have stayed in the camp and waited for them to attack, instead of rushing across the river to fight like they are now, not even willing to wait for a day.
"Brother Fourteen, what should we do now?"
Duduo and other generals all looked at Dorgon.
“The arrow is already on the string, what else can we do?”
"Besides, I am not afraid of attacking a camp, so why should I be afraid of a field battle?"
Dorgon knew that it was too late to say anything at this time. The army was advancing but not retreating. It was absolutely impossible to retreat, and it would not work to confront them here.
The opponent is an infantry, good at attacking cities and strongholds. They are cavalry, good at fighting in the field and making quick detours.
At this moment, the distance between the two armies is only thirty miles. If they dare to stay in this hastily built camp, it is tantamount to abandoning the strong point and chasing the weak. The red lady will probably wake up laughing in her dreams.
"Damn, it should have been like this!"
"Yes, my Eight Banners warriors are invincible in the world. How can those Han people stop me? As I said, we went straight to Tongzhou as soon as we came. I'm afraid they all entered the capital and captured the little emperor alive."
"Yes, what kind of bullshit is it that you can win without a fight, but in the end you have to rely on the sword in my hand to speak for you?"
All the Eight Banners generals started shouting.
Some even glared at Hong Chengchou, obviously they had been dissatisfied with him for a long time. Fortunately, Dorgon was still sober and had no intention of sacrificing Hong Chengchou's head to the flag.
"Report..."
"Inform the regent that the Ming army has sent an envoy to ask for an audience outside the camp." A Tatar quickly rushed into the big tent to report.
"Bring people in!"
Dorgon said in a deep voice after hearing this, and everyone became quiet.
Not long after, a Ming army general was brought into the tent.
As soon as dozens of Tatar generals came in, they all drew their swords and shouted: "Kneel down!"
"Hmph! Do you really think that someone is scared?"
Facing dozens of gleaming swords and a group of fierce-looking Tatars, the Ming army general snorted coldly.
"court death!"
Aobai was furious and was about to rush up to teach him a lesson, but Dorgon waved his hand, looked at the visitor and said solemnly: "Then what did the Red Lady send you to do?"
"Without him, I will send you a letter of war."
"You should be the false king Dorgon. My mother-in-law said that if you have the guts, we will fight to the death tomorrow. If you don't, go back to the northeast."
After saying that, he took out the letter of challenge from his arms. Duduo grabbed the letter of challenge and handed it to Dorgon.
Everyone was so excited by this arrogant Ming general that they gritted their teeth.
Dorgon took the letter of war calmly and read it. After reading it, he signed his name and stamped it, then threw it back to the Ming general and said in a cold voice: "Go back and tell the red lady that the two armies will be at noon tomorrow."
In the decisive battle, I will capture her alive in front of the battle array!"
"Bah, the toad yawned loudly..."
"roll!"
"Get out of here, mother..."
The Ming army general received the letter of challenge and saw Dorgon's bold words. He immediately roared, but was attacked by a group of Tatars who punched him.