The news that Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang was captured spread throughout the world, causing shock in all parties.
The first person to get the news was Li Zicheng, who was very close at hand.
Li Zicheng was dumbfounded when he heard that his uncle had been captured by the Ming army. Without saying a word, he immediately led his army to retreat three hundred miles north, breaking away from contact with Hong Chengchou.
There are two purposes for doing this.
One is that they are afraid that the Ming army will take advantage of their victory to pursue them and concentrate their forces against them.
Another thing is that a large number of Gao Yingxiang's subordinates have come to seek refuge, which he needs time to digest.
Hong Chengchou received the notification from Sun Chuanting almost at the same time as him.
Overjoyed, Hong Chengchou quickly sent a reply to Sun Chuanting, inviting Sun Chuanting to lead his army to join him in annihilating Li Zicheng.
However, Sun Chuanting's condition was not very good.
Although Gao Yingxiang was destroyed in one battle, the Qin troops formed by Sun Chuanting also suffered heavy losses and had to undergo training. They would not be able to fight again in a short time.
After learning the details, Hong Chengchou could only sigh with emotion and sit back and watch Li Zicheng go away happily.
Although Sun Chuanting rushed 800 miles to send such a major event to the capital, Zuo Menggeng still got the news one day earlier than Chongzhen.
"The northwest bandits will have a hard time next. With Gao Yingxiang gone, the other leaders are not convinced by each other and can no longer be as united as before. If they fight independently, they will definitely not be able to defeat the Ming army."
As Shandong established itself as a country, it no longer referred to the Ming Dynasty as the "imperial court".
It used to be called the official army, but now it is called the Ming army.
Even such a big event as Gao Yingxiang's capture did not have a big impact on Zuo Mengeng.
This is the advantage of having a thorough understanding of history. You have already been mentally prepared.
"Ignore the situation in the Central Plains, the stockpiling of supplies on Jeju Island must be accelerated. It is expected that Huang Taiji will definitely attack North Korea this winter. You must also pay attention to the weather conditions at all times and do not affect the combat plan."
If Shandong wants to support North Korea, there is only one way by sea. In this little ice age, what they are most afraid of is the freezing of coastal areas. In that case, the transportation of troops and materials will be seriously affected.
The staff noted down his reminder and passed it on to the Eastern Army headquarters on Jeju Island that same day.
Chongzhen finally received the good news.
His first reaction was...
"You bastard! Frontline officials and generals don't want to do their job and actually lied about the military situation. Do you really think I won't punish you?"
Yes, Chongzhen didn’t believe it.
And it’s no wonder he is.
Gao Yingxiang started the rebellion in the first year of Chongzhen. He has always been the leader of the rebel army, and he has great reputation and strength.
The Ming Dynasty sent so many capable ministers, and the famous generals were helpless against him. How could a mere governor who had been in office for less than three months capture him?
Inferring from common sense, Chongzhen felt that Sun Chuanting was lying about the military situation and seeking fame.
Another reason for his disbelief was right around him.
After Zhang Fengyi invited the military governor, he did nothing. He huddled in the city and allowed the Qing troops to move back and forth.
There has been a mountain of impeachments against him by the royal censors and officials in the court.
As for the so-called bloody memorial he submitted, it had already been criticized to pieces.
After all, it happened under everyone's noses. Everyone could see the real situation, so how could he be deceived?
Zhang Fengyi's claws are now completely numb.
He was helpless and knew that after the Qing army retreated, only death awaited him.
Zhang Fengyi was horrified when she thought that she might suffer the same tragic fate as Wang Qia.
What is he going to do?
Eat rhubarb.
Rhubarb is hot in nature. Eating too much will cause the body to become hot and dry, cause qi and blood to surge, and cause great loss of vitality.
Zhang Fengyi ate every day, every meal, every meal, until her body collapsed. She became weaker and weaker, and even reached the point of death.
He was like this, and Liang Tingdong imitated him.
The two most important commanders in the fight against the Qing army did not want to command the battle, but only wanted to die. How ridiculous!
It was precisely because of their performance that Chongzhen was full of doubts about Sun Chuanting's battle report.
But not long after, reports came one after another about the situation in Shaanxi, and Gao Yingxiang had been escorted to the capital, confirming that what Sun Chuanting said was true.
Chongzhen held the memorial in his hand. For a moment, he wanted to burst into tears.
It’s really not easy!
How many years?
The more rogue bandits attacked, the more losses they suffered.
First, Shaanxi became a mess, then Shanxi was exposed to war, and then Henan was repeatedly poisoned by rogue bandits, and the core hinterland of the Ming Dynasty was completely ruined.
Now that the largest bandit leader, Gao Yingxiang, has finally been captured and will be taken prisoner, he can feel proud and report the good news to his ancestors.
Unfortunately, this is not a season that allows him to rejoice freely.
The joy of capturing Gao Yingxiang had not passed yet, and urgent military information was once again sent to his desk.
"Your Majesty, the Qing army has arrived at the gates of Baoding City. They have been besieging the city for days and are in danger. The governor of Baoding sent three letters a day asking for help and begging the imperial court to send troops."
I heard that Baoding was no longer guaranteed, and the people in Chongzhen were all numb.
But where can he send troops?
The limited troops he had on hand were assigned to the eunuchs to defend the surrounding areas of the capital. As for other places, he could only let the Qing troops come and go as they pleased.
Chongzhen originally felt a little relieved, but became depressed again.
But this time, someone showed up.
In Gaoyang County, southeast of Baoding, the city gates are now closed. Soldiers and local braves crowded the walls, looking fearfully in the direction of Baoding.
Hearing that Baoding was besieged by the Qing army, Gaoyang County, which was nearby, was shocked. Local officials and squires mobilized one after another to organize people, horses, money and food, hoping to protect themselves.
Sun Chengzong, who was over seventy years old, stood on the city wall with an expression of great pain.
Since the second year of Chongzhen, the Qing army has been moving southward from time to time. The places they hit have become farther and farther away each time, and they have gradually begun to penetrate deep into the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty.
What does this mean?
This shows that the border defense that the Ming Dynasty worked hard for more than two hundred years has completely lost its effect.
Sooner or later, the Qing army will invade the pass in large numbers and occupy this world.
The young emperor in the Forbidden City, like his elder brother, was incapable of saving the world.
Where should thousands of people of the Ming Dynasty go?
Feeling his old and feeble body, Sun Chengzong showed even more vicissitudes of life.
Just when he was sad for the spring and sad for the autumn, a troop of soldiers and horses came quickly from the south and soon reached the city, but they did not ask to enter the city.
A civil servant who was elegant, elegant, and wearing a helmet rushed to the city on horseback.
"I am Lu Xiangsheng, the new governor of Xuanda. I have been ordered to go north to King Qin to fight to the death with the Donglu in Baoding. Can the city provide food and grass support?"
Sun Chengzong woke up in shock, lying on the wall and looking down.
But I saw that although the number of these soldiers and horses was only more than 6,000, even though they came after a long journey, their appearance was neat and their array was orderly.
Thousands of people were ordered to stand still, but not a single sound was made.
