Chapter 1432 Jia Heng: Making a fuss about the granary.
Chapter 1432 Jia Heng:...Making a fuss about the granary.
Shengjing City, Xiande Hall
At this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall was somewhat depressing. In the hall was not only Luck Dehun, but also Hu Sai and other Jurchen princes and ministers, as well as some old bannermen and nobles from the Eight Jurchen Banners. The hall was crowded with people.
Dorgon nodded and asked: "How is the Han army's siege situation in the past few days?"
Luckard's face paused slightly and he said warmly: "In the past few days, the Han army's attack on the city has become more and more rapid."
Dorgon's resolute face showed no trace of sadness as he said: "Where is Shuosai, but is there a flying pigeon message from Liaoyang?"
Luck Dehun nodded and said: "After several more raids, but two of them were traps by the Han army, Shuosei has planned to leave Liaoyang for the time being."
Dorgon's face suddenly became gloomy and uncertain, and his eyes were full of worry.
At this moment, a Jurchen knight wearing white cloth and nail armor came quickly from outside, entered the palace, cupped his hands and said: "Prince Regent, the Han people have sent an envoy into the city."
When Dorgon heard this, he looked a little surprised and said, "What are the Han people doing sending their envoys here at this time?"
"My servant doesn't know either." The guard shook his head and said.
Dorgon frowned and said, "Let the Han envoy enter the palace to talk."
Most of the high-level Jurchen civil and military officials in the palace looked worried.
Luck's brows were furrowed, his eyes were deep, and he was wondering about the purpose of the Han envoy's visit.
"Xuan Han Ting's envoy enters the palace."
Along the side of the palace, the high-pitched and thin voice of the inner prisoner sounded loudly, and a small Han army soldier wearing armor and a cape escorted a civil servant in a straight green shirt, holding his head high and chest high, and walked into the palace.
His face was calm, and he faced the gazes of the Jurchen princes and ministers with an extremely magnanimous expression.
At this time, Hu Sai was already making harsh remarks and said in a cold voice: "How dare you not kneel in front of my regent?"
"The envoys of the Heavenly Kingdom are here, why don't you kneel down?" The civil servant looked solemn and said in a deep voice.
He was Jia Lin, a member of Jia Heng's clan. He used to be a signatory in the capital camp and was now the commander-in-chief of the 12th regiment. Hearing that Jia Heng had chosen to send an envoy, he volunteered.
Husai snorted coldly and was about to get angry, but at this moment, on an embroidered pier under the golden chair, Dorgon looked solemn and said loudly: "Show the Han envoy a seat."
Jia Lin waved his hand and said: "There is no need to watch the seats. My commander-in-chief left a message to the puppet king of your country, persuading your country to reduce its national title, open the city gates to accept surrender, and show your sincerity to my big man. I, this big man, can deal with you."
The murders committed by the Jurchens on the border of the Han Dynasty in the past will be forgotten, and they will not lose their status as princes in the sacred city."
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the Jurchen princes and ministers in the palace changed slightly. Some of the Jurchen Eight Banners, who originally had little confidence in whether the Jurchens could withstand the Han army's continuous offensive, and the veteran Eight Banners' commanders' eyes were rolling, and their hearts were spinning.
Started to murmur non-stop.
Don’t lose your status as a prince!
Dorgon's face was as gloomy as iron. He took in the changes in the faces of some civil and military ministers below and felt an inexplicable irritation in his heart.
This was the trick of Jia Heng'er, who wanted to divide the princes and nobles of the Qing Dynasty.
What sinister intentions!
While the Jurchen princes and nobles below were whispering to each other and discussing incessantly, Dorgon said coldly: "I, the Qing Dynasty, will never surrender, and we will live and die with the city!"
As soon as he said this, Luck's expression changed slightly and he secretly said something bad.
At this time, if a heavy army is besieging the city, it is definitely not to refuse the Han envoys' surrender with firm words. Otherwise, all the civil and military ministers in the military tent will have their minds wandering.
Of course, this also has advantages, that is, it cuts off the thoughts of the Jurchen dignitaries and senior officials in the palace.
At this moment, Jia Lin was not worried at this moment and said lightly: "If the city is destroyed, both jade and stone will be destroyed."
Dorgon's resolute and majestic face was filled with anger. Under his thick eyebrows, he looked at Jia Lin with evil eyes and said loudly: "Envoy of the Han Dynasty, please retreat."
The so-called war between the two countries did not kill the envoys, but Dorgon did not kill the Han envoys out of anger to vent his anger.
At this point, Dorgon thought he was better than Jia Heng, who had conspired to kill Shuo Tuo.
After Jia Lin left, Dorgon pondered for a moment, glanced at the Jurchen civil and military officials below, and said: "Why, are you excited? You want to surrender and sell all the inheritance of the Aisin Gioro clan to the Han people.
?”
The expressions of the Jurchen princes and nobles below, such as Beizi, Baylor, and some veteran commanders of the Eight Banners, suddenly changed. Facing Dorgon's gaze, they all lowered their heads, not daring to raise their heads to look at each other.
I couldn't help but feel inexplicably ashamed.
Dorgon stood up, and under his thick eyebrows, his sharp eyes glanced at the courtiers, and said: "Two generations of emperors worked hard and overcame all obstacles to achieve such a small foundation. How could you bear to let it fall into the hands of others? Back then?
The Han army was besieged by 400,000 troops, and the late emperor defeated hundreds of thousands of Han troops in Sarhu. We, the descendants of our descendants, are unworthy of us. How can we sit idly by when faced with the siege of a large army?"
The Jurchen princes and nobles below could not help but murmur in their hearts at this moment.
The former emperor was both wise and courageous. Now you are in charge of the Qing Dynasty, but now you are in this situation? Do you still have the nerve to mention the former emperor?
In fact, after such a long period of time and consecutive defeats, Dorgon had lost his prestige and popularity among the Jurchen princes and nobles.
Under Dorgon's thick eyebrows, his cold eyes were stern, and he said in a deep voice: "Now that the Han army is outside, as long as we can resist the winter moon, heavy snow blocks the roads, and the Han army's food routes are cut off, this will be our opportunity for the Qing Dynasty to counterattack."
Dorgon could only use similar words again to encourage the wavering Jurchen princes and nobles.
However, this time it was not as easy as the first time. Although everyone agreed, their attitude was mostly perfunctory.
Dorgon nodded and said loudly: "Everyone, please go back and organize your troops and wait for a while to defend the city. Prince Shuncheng will stay."
After all the civil and military ministers left, only Luck Dehun was left, with a gloomy face.
Dorgon's face paused slightly, he looked at Luck Dehun and said, "That little Jia Heng has a heart that can be punished."
Luckard said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, now not only the princes and nobles of our Qing Dynasty, but also the Han soldiers and generals in the city have begun to feel uneasy and have the desire to surrender."
The Jurchens were obviously not fools, and they knew some of the changes in the city.
Dorgon's eyes were gloomy, he became a lot more surly, and said in a cold voice: "How do you say that?"
Luck Dehun's face paused slightly and said: "According to Sun Shaozu, some Han soldiers and generals in the city seemed to be wavering. Especially after the Battle of Jinzhou, many Han soldiers and generals received preferential treatment, and there was nothing else.
.”
Dorgon's haggard and dark face showed a flash of livid anger, and soon a look of dejection appeared on his face, saying: "Even some elders of the Eight Banners have been shaken, let alone these second ministers?
"
At this moment, Dorgon has a mentality of "it's going to rain, my mother wants to get married," so let it go.
Luckard's face was as calm as black water, and he said: "The regent, if these Han ministers are allowed to run wild, I'm afraid they will endanger our Qing Dynasty."
"Next, we cannot make large-scale arrests, otherwise the people in the city will be in panic." Dorgon nodded and said: "Let Sun Shaozu lead a group of people to keep an eye on those Han generals and Han ministers, and do not let them cooperate inside and outside, open the door
City gate."
Luck Dehun nodded, cupped his hands and said, "I will give instructions to Sun Shaozu when I get back."
In this way, Zhongshan Wolf used one trick to accuse others of being wolves, thus once again deeply gaining the trust of Jurchen Dorgon and taking the initiative of the Han officials in the city.
The Jurchen Eight Banners commanders and deputy commanders in the city were secretly discussing the Han court's surrender today.
…
…
Outside the city, in the military tent——
Jia Heng was standing behind a lacquered wooden table in the Chinese army's tent. Not far from him stood a tall figure, Chen Xiao, whose jade face was like a frost-covered face.
Chen Xiao handed over a military report and said: "Look at this, where Xiping Fort is located, our Beijing camp has lost another hundred thousand stones of grain and fodder."
Jia Heng took the military report handed over by Chen Xiao, frowned, his eyes flickered, and he looked at Chen Xiao and said: "It is indeed not the way to go on like this. What does Cao Bianjiao say?"
Chen Xiao said: "I handed over the military report to plead guilty."
Jia Heng looked extremely silent and said thoughtfully: "It's not to blame Cao Bianjiao. The Jurchens have already been vigilant, so the tactic of luring troops will not work."
Chen Xiao stared at the young man in the python suit and whispered: "If we continue to be robbed of food like this, it will be unsustainable as time goes by."
The Han army had a large number of troops on the front line, and the daily consumption of food and fodder during the siege was becoming increasingly huge.
Jia Heng took the map in his hand, stared at the small Ling River on it, and said loudly: "The grain road is divided into two roads, one from Shanhaiguan, Ningjin and Ningzhou by sea, and then the Sancha River to the Hun River
, to Shengjing City, the other way will be escorted by heavy troops, and the Beijing Camp will select 20,000 cavalry to accompany the escort."
Harassment by Jurchens was never a problem.
Chen Xiao nodded and said loudly: "This method is feasible, but it takes a little more trouble."
Jia Heng said: "It's not feasible to go without any trouble. Let Cao Bianjiao lead his troops to escort."
While the two were talking, a guard in brocade clothes wearing a flying fish suit embroidered with python patterns and an embroidered spring knife hanging from his waist entered the military tent and said in a deep voice: "Captain, Master Jia is back."
Jia Heng looked at the Jinyi palace guard and said loudly: "Let him come in."
After a while, Jia Lin came in from the outside, looked at the young man in the python suit, saluted and said, "I've seen the handsome man before."
Jia Heng asked: "Thank you for your hard work, what do the Jurchens say?"
Jia Lin said: "The regent and other people in the palace seem to be moving."
Jia Heng nodded, his face paused slightly, and he said: "Just move your mind. The Jurchen people are already in chaos, and it will naturally show this when they defend the city."
Jia Lin said: "That's what the commander said."
Jia Heng encouraged Jia Lin a few more words and asked Jia Lin to go back and rest. He stared at Chen Xiao and said: "The strategy has begun to work. During this period, we will attack the city first and use it as we see it."
Chen Xiao nodded, his face thoughtful.
…
…
Years passed by quickly, and before I knew it, three days and three nights had passed.
The rest and recuperation of the Han soldiers in the capital camp also came to an end, and on this day, the sound of drums sounded "dong dong", which was as dense as raindrops at this moment and deafening, breaking the autumn season.
The Han army surged out of the Muzha camp where they had set up, and climbed towards the city wall to attack. The shouts of killing were deafening at this moment.
At this moment, it seemed no different from the previous sieges.
The two sides fought an offensive and defensive battle from the morning until the evening, and the sunset was as bright as the clouds, which for a time dyed the western sky red.
Jia Heng frowned as he looked at the Han troops retreating like a tide.
No matter how good the strategy is, it still needs to put pressure on the Jurchens in the city at the city defense level.
When the generals returned to the military tent, they saw the young man in python suit sitting behind a lacquered wooden table with a gloomy face.
The generals felt the atmosphere, and couldn't help but feel a little awe-inspiring in their hearts.
"There is still no progress in attacking the city today. Do you generals want to celebrate the New Year in Shengjing City?" Jia Heng paused slightly and said in a deep voice.
When the generals below heard this, a look of shame appeared on their faces, and they lowered their heads tightly.
Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "The Jurchens are holding the city and defending it. They clearly want to hold out with our army until the winter moon, and then use the method of attacking the grain road to turn defeat into victory. You are the veteran generals of the capital camp, and we are attacking the city today."
, we should use more brave men and go to the city as soon as possible."
The generals were silent for a moment.
Jia Heng stepped back, with a solemn look on his face, and said in a deep voice: "Recently, we have concentrated our superior artillery to blast directly at the south gate."
The generals below raised their hands and said yes.
After the generals left, Jia Heng sat down behind a lacquered wooden table again without saying a word.
Under Chen Xiao's curved willow-leaf slender eyebrows, a hint of thought appeared in his bright and shining eyes, and he said loudly: "Dig a tunnel, or let someone bury explosives."
Jia Heng said: "We can only try it first."
Generally speaking, sieges have always consisted of the same set of tools, including digging tunnels, water attacks, shelling, or taking the city from within. There are not many other new tricks.
Nowadays, the Han army has Hongyi cannon, which can fire at the city wall non-stop.
Chen Xiao nodded and said: "This siege of the city lasted for several months. It is not easy to break the city. We have already used alienation tactics before. We just have to wait for the result."
Jia Heng frowned, his eyes as sharp as swords, and said, "If this continues, it's not a good sign."
As the saying goes, a mountain with nine feet will fall short of success.
Chen Xiao nodded and said loudly: "We'll see if the internal response in the city can do anything, but it still depends on the intensity of the siege outside the city."
Jia Heng said: "In the past few days, the entire army has attacked the city and exerted maximum pressure."
Under Chen Xiao's beautiful eyebrows, her clear eyes were as bright as water, and she said with relief: "The Jurchen casualties in the past few days have not been lower than those of our Han army. The Hongyi artillery has completely suppressed the Jurchen soldiers."
Jia Heng nodded and muttered: "It is better to use gunpowder. The gunpowder in the earthen tunnel of the city wall is not enough."
If it's not powerful enough, just make up for it with quantity.
While Jia Heng was thinking about it, a royal guard wearing a flying fish suit entered the military tent, raised his hands and said, "Captain, His Royal Highnesses the King of Wei and the King of Chu are here."
Jia Heng nodded, then left the military tent, greeted the two vassal kings, and then returned to the Chinese military tent while talking.
There was a look of concern in King Wei's eyes, and he said, "Zi Yu, is it not going well for us to attack the city today?"
Apparently, when they were dealing with food and fodder matters in Houzhai, they heard the news about Jia Heng's anger in the military tent in front.
Jia Heng said: "There is something wrong. The general has rested for a few days. Maybe he is a little slack. He is not very focused on attacking the city today."
In other words, it did not meet the standards he had in mind.
Wei Wang Chen Ran asked: "Sieging the city is not a day's work. In the past few days, I heard that the Jurchen cavalry was harassing the grain road. There has been a problem. I don't know how to deal with it now?"
Jia Heng's face paused slightly and he said: "We have taken measures, but it will not affect the food supply."
Suddenly my heart moved, and I vaguely grasped a key.
The Han army's food supply was not maintained, and the millions of soldiers and civilians in the Jurchen Shengjing City would have enough rice and food?
The Jurchens were not originally a completely self-sufficient regime. They had also lost a lot of food in previous campaigns.
Most of the grain in Shengjing City is not enough. Maybe some princes and nobles have hoarded some, but how can they take it out? Even if Dorgon forces it to take it out, it will inevitably cause estrangement between Dorgon and the Jurchen nobles.
King Chen Qin of Chu looked deeply and said: "Zi Yu, some cannons, blunderbuss and bullets have been transported to the barracks recently."
Jia Heng nodded and said: "The recent bombardment of Shengjing City has consumed a lot of artillery and bullets. King Chu's batch of ammunition came in time."
Chen Xiao glanced at the boy in the python suit and said, "But have you thought of a strategy to defeat the enemy?"
The King of Chu and the King of Wei looked at each other, somewhat confused.
Jia Heng said slowly: "I'm wondering if the food in Shengjing City won't last for a month at all."
When the King of Chu and the King of Wei heard this, their eyes were surprised at first, and then they suddenly realized.
Deng Wei on the side also had a look of surprise on his face.
Jia Heng said: "Shengjing City has a large population. Previously, when guarding Jinzhou, Ningyuan has transferred a lot of military food. How much food can be left in the city?"
King Chu and King Wei nodded and said almost in unison: "There won't be too much food in the treasury in the city."
Jia Heng looked at Chen Xiao who was standing aside and said, "Think of ways to let the spies in the city make fuss about the granary."
He finally thought of a way to defeat the enemy. Instead of taking the city with Nei Ying, he might as well let Nei Ying burn the granary. The latter would definitely be much less difficult than the former.
Chen Xiao's eyes also lit up and he said: "This strategy is feasible."
The two vassals of Wei and Chu also nodded.
And the Shengjing City, the Xiande Hall——
There are several sycamore trees outside the hall, their branches with fallen sycamore leaves are swaying in the wind, casting mottled shadows under the sunlight.
"What are the casualties today?" Dorgon asked in a deep voice with bright eyes.
Luckard's face seemed to be covered with a layer of gloom, and he whispered: "There were probably three to four thousand casualties."
Dorgon frowned, his eyes deep under his thick eyebrows, and asked: "The casualties are so serious?"
If you calculate it this way, in less than a month, the soldiers in Shengjing City will be exhausted by this continuous offensive.
Luckedhun pondered for a moment and said loudly: "Today's Han army's offensive has become more fierce, and the Hongyi artillery fire is much more fierce than yesterday."
Dorgon looked solemn and said loudly: "Hold on, hold on for more than a month, and winter will begin."
It can be said that Dorgon has hypnotized "winter is coming" into the last life-saving straw for the Qing Dynasty.
Luckard heard this and was silent for a while.
Dorgon said: "By the way, are there any movements among the Han soldiers in the city recently?"
Luck Dehun nodded and said: "Sun Shaozu has sent people to break into it and is closely monitoring the secret movements of the Han generals. There is not much news yet, but we are closely monitoring it."
Dorgon said: "Tell Sun Shaozu that if the rebellion can be discovered in advance, I will make him a duke."