Although Hong Chengchou decided that after returning to Beijing, he would definitely look for Western missionaries to see if they really had such tools to see far-sighted, because he knew that after the Qing army invaded Beijing, the original missionaries turned out to be the ones. He didn't leave Beijing. But now he thought about this, and it was useless. The distance water could not relieve the near thirst. Therefore, Hong Chengchou thought about it and said to Duoduo: "Prince Yu, I think it's better to send a few people to come and have a look."
Duoduo nodded. Although he knew that sending people at this time was not much different from dying, there was no other way now. We couldn't just bump into them like this. Therefore, we immediately sent three teams of soldiers, each with twenty people. , let them touch the position of the merchant army, go and see what the position of the merchant army is, and also learn how many artillery the merchant army has. Of course, maybe they have received a heavy reward. After returning alive, each person will be rewarded with two silvers. A hundred, upgrade to three levels. If you die in battle, you will be given a pension of 500 taels of family members and your children will be given hereditary official position.
With the heavy reward that Duoduo promised, the three teams of soldiers also set off in flames, but before they returned to the Qing army's array, Duoduo could only wait patiently. Time passed by minute by minute, Duoduo and Hong Chengchou only felt that the second was as long as he could not see clearly the situation of the Merchant Army's position, but he could see explosions constantly in his position, and the gunners were also dead in Lu Ji, and he had more than ten artillery pieces. It was destroyed by enemy artillery fire, so I was very worried about it.
It was mid-May. Although it was the Little Ice Age, the climate in the south was still hot and stuffy. Jiaduoduo was anxious and uneasy now, and felt that it was so hot that he simply took off his helmet and showed his shiny bald head. While wiping sweat, he ran back and forth on the podium. Although Hong Chengchou was sweating profusely, he still kept himself calm. He looked at the enemy in the distance and then his The position is strong and pretends to be calm.
After nearly thirty minutes, the three teams sent out came back one after another, but there were sixty people when they set off, but only twenty-seven people came back. Some were killed by shells on the way, while others were too close. The Merchant Army's position was killed by the Merchant Army's blocker. However, Duoduo was not interested in their casualties. What he urgently needed to know now is how the other party's position was?
But the results were quite disappointed by Duoduo. The soldiers who were exploring the investigation said that the artillery positions of the merchant army were almost completely hit because most of the shells fired from their artillery could not hit the opponent's position. Even if you hit it, the loss will not be large. The other point is that the number of guns on the opponent is much higher than that on his own, at least 200.
The results of the three teams came back, and the results of the report were similar. Duoduo could basically confirm that the reality was like this. Although Duoduo was also very surprised that there were so many artillery in the merchant army, it was really unimaginable, but he also understood. He was obviously not his opponent when he was fighting artillery with the merchant army. Therefore, Duoduo hurriedly discussed with Hong Chengchou what to do next?
Hong Chengchou thought for a while and said, "Prince Yu, now it seems that we cannot win with cannons alone. I think it is better to go through two-pronged approaches. First, push all the cannons with insufficient range forward, and strive to hit the merchant army's formation. , and then send a large group of troops to attack the positions of the merchant army."
Duoduo nodded. What Hong Chengchou said made sense. Otherwise, if he would still suffer a loss if he continued like this, he might as well launch a strong attack and try the effect. Therefore, just as he was about to give an order, he suddenly felt that there was a water slush on his forehead.
When I fell to my forehead, I first took one trip and two trips, but it soon became more and more. It turned out that it was raining, and the raindrops gradually became denser, like silk and thread.
In fact, it is already mid-May, and the plum rain season is coming. It is just in the past decade that it is the worst time of the Little Ice Age. China's climate is dry and cold, not only the north is severe drought every year, but the south is
There are also much less plum rain than too much, so it was not until this time this year that the first plum rain fell.
At this time, the firearms were most afraid of rain, so when the rain started, all the cannons could not be used. Duoduo also took the ladder to get down the wall and ordered the troops to be withdrawn. On the other side of the war, Shang Yi couldn't help but secretly rejoice.
I had prepared this for a long time and fully considered the rain when I was setting up my defense. However, now that the Qing army withdrew, Shang Yi also ordered that all the soldiers guarding the trenches be transferred to the Sheep and Horse Wall
Come back to defend, push some of the artillery back to the warehouse to preserve, and set up sheds for the artillery left behind to block the wind and rain. At the same time, remind the artillery to protect the ammunition and not get wet.
Although the rain was not heavy, it kept getting up all the time, and it drizzled from noon until evening, and never stopped for a moment.
After the Qing army withdrew its troops, Duoduo checked the losses, and died in a total of 187 people. Thirteen artillery pieces, including two red-clothed cannons. Although the losses were not large, Duoduo was still very annoyed.
, Because so many artillery were concentrated, it was impossible to defeat the merchant army, which obviously disappointed Duoduo. Therefore, after dinner, Duoduo also recruited generals to discuss what to do next?
All the generals stared at each other, and no one could tell any of them, because all the generals saw the artillery battle during the day. To be honest, it was the rain that came in time that gave the Qing army a decent withdrawal.
Opportunity. Otherwise, the Qing army would have lost another battle.
And just then, Hong Chengchou stood up and stepped out and said, "Prince Yu, I think since it is difficult to win now, we might as well withdraw our troops temporarily."
Duoduo was stunned for a moment, and was a little moved. After all, when he could not break the city, retreating was a feasible method, at least it was better than losing troops in vain. The Qing army had used this tactic many times before.
When Yuan Chonghuan was guarding Ningyuan, Huang Taiji did not attack Ningyuan, but instead detoured into the pass to invade, which resulted in Yuan Chonghuan being killed.
But now that I have reached the Yangtze River, I can see Nanjing across the Yangtze River. Just with the withdrawal of troops, Duoduo felt a little unwilling to accept it. Therefore, he frowned and said, "It's so difficult that we have nothing to do except withdraw our troops.
Is there any way? Now Prince Ying has already reached Wuchang. Although the Ming Dynasty surrendered Li Zicheng, I don’t think he can stop Prince Ying for how long. Once Prince Ying defeated Li Zicheng, he can go down the river and take straight to Nanjing.
, Could it be that the credit for breaking Nanjing was given to Prince Ying?"
Hong Chengchou sighed secretly and said nothing. In fact, he had a complete plan in his mind. If he was the commander-in-chief of this southern expedition, he would order Duoduo's troops to temporarily attack Yangzhou, and
For two routes, one route restrains the merchant army here, the other route advances west along the Yangtze River, attacks Huangzhou Prefecture, cooperates with Ajige's troops, first defeats Li Zicheng, then crosses the river in Huguang, and goes east again along the two sides of the Yangtze River, and you can take a break
Going to Nanjing, even if Shang Yi has great skills, he will not be able to turn the tables.
But Hong Chengchou did not say this plan, because he knew very well that this would be equivalent to giving up the first contribution of the Southern Expedition to Ajige. Although the Qing army now cannot destroy each other like the Ming army.
, but the competition for merit was very fierce. Although Dodo and Ajige were brothers, they would never be willing to make wedding dresses. Unless Dorgon personally ordered, they could be transferred to Dodo.
Of course, if I had made suggestions to Dorgon, I believe Dorgon would definitely accept it. However, Hong Chengchou was also a person who had been in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty for more than ten years. After several ups and downs, he knew very well that the first priority of being an official was correct.
Although it is a word of difference between doing things, the result is a world of difference. If I were still in Beijing now, I could make a suggestion from a neutral standpoint, but now I am Duoduo
Of course, it is impossible for Duoduo to persuade Ajige to assist Ajige in establishing great achievements. Otherwise, he would have completely offended Duoduo.
Duoduo is Dorgon's younger brother and his first confidant. If he offended him, even if he would not touch him for the time being, he would not have to continue the Qing court in the future. Therefore, Hong Chengchou had clearly found the most correct one.
The method, but I can't tell it, so I have to keep it in my heart.
However, Duoduo's words played a considerable role in stimulating other generals, because although the Qing army did not go smoothly on the battlefield in the Jianghuai River, overall, the development of the Qing court was in the process of upgrading, so the Qing Dynasty was in progress.
The army is still very energetic, and the mainstream idea is to make achievements and expand land, rather than to maintain business and maintain success and live a life of just one's life. Although he knew that the merchant army was not easy to deal with, the generals were unwilling to give Ajige the credit for conquering Nanjing.
Go.
At this time, Ye Chen stood up and said, "Prince Yu, most of the merchant army is in firearms, and on rainy days, firearms cannot be used. Therefore, if it still rains tomorrow, we might as well attack while the rain will attack and conquer Yangzhou in one fell swoop.
.” After hearing this, the other generals expressed their agreement.
Duoduo nodded. In fact, he had not thought of attacking while the rain was not enough. Although the rain made the merchant army's firearms unable to be used, it would also cause obstacles to the Qing army's attack. At least the Qing army's bows and arrows could not be used on rainy days.
However, after two measures, it is still more beneficial to the Qing army. After all, the firearms of the merchant army are too fierce. And now all the generals advocate the rain battle, so Duoduo also made a decision, saying:
"Okay, then everyone will go back today and prepare. If it still rains tomorrow, then we are sending troops to attack Yangzhou."
The generals agreed in unison, and then returned to the account and went to prepare. Hong Chengchou opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but finally he didn't say it.
After all the generals withdrew, Duoduo also came to the door of the tent, looked at the rain outside, and was also looking forward to it, hoping that this rain could become a point for the demolition of this battle.