After reading the report sent by Hangzhou, Shang Yi couldn't help but feel amused. The situation developed as he expected. There were only two vassal kings in the south who were supporting Ming Dynasty. Now there were only two, but I'm afraid there would be a horse. The third and fourth ones appeared, but the Ming Dynasty had already reached this point, and the ministers still did not forget to fight for power and profit. I don’t know whether it was ridiculous or sad.
But this situation is good, because Shang Yi does not plan to support a Ming Wang Shen in Hangzhou at all. If Lu Wang and Lu Wang really want to come to Hangzhou, it will be a big trouble. This is not a hot commodity. , but a hot potato. Of course, even if some of them really want to come to Hangzhou, Shang Yi has a way to shirk it.
Therefore, Shang Yi immediately replied to Ye Yaoyan, using the excuse that he was still in Nanjing and did not reply further, he did not make a clear reply to the personnel of the two factions, and would wait until he returned to Hangzhou before he said everything. Anyway, Nanjing is almost at peace. If you can't stay, you will probably give up Nanjing and return to Hangzhou in about ten days. But you must treat the envoys of both factions equally. If they are willing to wait for them, then treat them well and don't offend them.
Just after sending the letter away, Duan Peng hurried into Shang Yi's office and said anxiously: "Sir, Zhenjiang is lost."
Shang Yi was also surprised. He knew that Zheng Hongkui was stationed in Zhenjiang. Although the Qing army might bypass Nanjing to capture Zhenjiang, because Zhenjiang is in the lower reaches of Nanjing, as long as the Qing army's troops are mobilized, they will definitely hide. However, once the spies of the Shang Army discovered that the Qing army had signs of moving towards Zhenjiang, Shang Yi would immediately send troops and launch an attack from behind the Qing army. Shang Yi was also more at ease with Zhenjiang. Therefore, Shang Yi also said: "Zhenjiang" Why did they suddenly lose? Have we noticed the movements of the Qing army?"
Duan Peng said: "It was not the Qing army besieging Nanjing to attack Zhenjiang, but Wu Sangui's men. They crossed the river from Yizhen and captured Zhenjiang."
It turned out that after Wu Sangui failed to cross the river in Jiangpu, he knew the advantages of the merchant army on the water surface, so he came up with a plan. He deliberately led a large group of troops to march west, as if he wanted to travel farther away in Nanjing to find a place to cross the river. But Yizhen left a group of people, led by his subordinate general Ma Bao, who took advantage of the attention of the merchant army to visit Nanjing and quietly crossed the river in Yizhen.
Wu Sangui's abacus was: If the merchant army found this army that crossed the river in Yizhen, they would definitely send a navy to attack, so that they could travel in Nanjing to find an opportunity to cross the river. If the merchant army did not find this army, then the horse Baodu After Jiang, he went straight to Zhenjiang. He didn't believe that Shang Yi's retreat was attacked and he could still defend himself in Nanjing.
It turned out that the guard of Zhenjiang was Zheng Hongkui, the general under Zheng Zhilong. However, after the city of Nanjing was broken, Zheng Hongkui gave up Zhenjiang and fled back to Guangdong. Therefore, Zhenjiang is now an empty city, so Ma Baoteng captured Zhenjiang without bloodshed.
After learning about the loss of Zhenjiang, Shang Yi couldn't help but blame himself. He was indeed too careless and admired Wu Sangui very much. He was indeed a rare famous general in this era. This move was really good at attacking the world. Although Zhenjiang Falling does not pose much danger to Nanjing, but if the Qing army really bypasses Nanjing and launches an attack on Suzhou and Zhejiang, it will be a disaster. Fortunately, it was ten days ago, Li Yan was in Wu Xi. Jiangyin and Jiangyin sent a division to guard it, so at least Suzhou could be saved, but now it is indeed time to give up Nanjing.
However, at this time, the fleet that transported the last batch of people had already set off from Nanjing. It would take at least three days before the fleet could return to Nanjing. The Fifth Squadron was responsible for the escort mission, and now the only one who stayed in Nanjing is left is the fourth
It is impossible for the squadron to leave all the more than 36,000 troops in Nanjing at one time, so the merchant army has to guard Nanjing for three days. Of course, the Qing army is still huddled in the imperial city and dare not come out. After these three days, it should be
There is no problem.
So Shang Yi first ordered Cheng Jin to immediately give up Lishui, Liyang, Gaochun and other areas outside Nanjing except Guangde Prefecture, retreat to Kuling Pass, Si'an Town, and Changxing in the northwest of Huzhou Prefecture, and at the same time go to Wu.
Xi sent a brigade of troops to protect southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang areas based on Taihu Lake.
Shang Yi then ordered the recruitment of Yang Wucheng, Duan Peng and Li Dingguo for a meeting. At the meeting, Shang Yi also told them that they would immediately evacuate and return to Zhejiang after the fleet returned to Nanjing. But now they could not tell the soldiers about this decision.
And every day, they still have to launch artillery attacks on the imperial city like they did a few days ago, so that the Qing army would not notice it, and then they would evacuate Nanjing without knowing it.
Yang Wuwu and Duan Peng left, and Shang Yi left Li Dingguo alone and said, "Hongyuan, I have a very difficult task that I want to hand it over to you to perform. I don't know if you are willing to do it."
”
Li Dingguo was stunned for a moment, and his horse looked solemn, saying, "Master Supervisor, what is the task? As long as I hand it over to the Dingguo, I will do my best to finish Xu."
Shang Yi nodded and pointed at the map: "Hongyuan, now the Qing army is concentrated in Nanzhi and western Zhejiang, and the troops in Hubei are very empty, so I plan to send a team of troops to take advantage of this gap.
, against the river, landed in the Huangzhou area, and then established a base in Hubei area around the Dabie Mountains area, and moved behind the Qing army, echoing the Zhejiang area, restraining the Qing army's forces. But there is one thing I want to say before
, This task is very dangerous, because in the early stage, the conditions will be quite difficult, because you are not familiar with the land in Hubei and the logistics supply is also very difficult, so you may even hide in the deep mountains and forests.
So you have to think clearly.”
Li Dingguo stood attentively with a "bang" sound, and said, "Please rest assured, as long as the Supervisor trusts me, I will definitely complete this task."
Shang Yi was also very satisfied and said, "Hongyuan, you did not disappoint me."
The reason why Shang Yi handed over the task of establishing a base behind enemy lines to Li Dingguo for execution was that in the Jianghuai Battle, Li Dingguo performed very well on the outside battle commanded by Li Dingguo and accumulated considerable experience in traveling action warfare. In addition, Li Dingguo's geography in Hubei area
The situation is also quite familiar. When he was following Zhang Xianzhong's peasant army, he fought many times in areas within Hubei. These are important experiences in establishing a base in Hubei this time. Therefore, among the merchant army, only Li Dingguo is the most important.
The right candidate.
Seeing that Li Dingguo accepted this task, Shang Yi was naturally happy. At this time, he had made sufficient considerations about the plan for fighting behind enemy lines in Hubei, so he also discussed the details with Li Dingguo in detail.
Shang Yi put forward several requirements:
First, this combat plan will be dominated by Li Dingguo, who has full authority and has sufficient autonomy. Zhejiang region is only responsible for suggestions and guidance, but the final decision is still in the hands of Li Dingguo. At the same time, Li Dingguo also recruits soldiers and appoints divisions.
Military officers below the level will appoint and remove officials from occupied areas, collect taxes, deal with spoils, etc. In general, in the future, in the merchant army territory in Hubei, all military, political and financial power will be concentrated in the division headed by Li Dingguo.
inside.
Second, this battle plan behind enemy lines in Hubei was implemented by Li Dingguo's Eighth Division, but it was divided into two stages. First, Li Dingguo led the 14th Regiment, not returning to Zhejiang, and arrived in Hubei in advance to open up the situation, because after Nanjing was conquered
The Qing army had to stabilize in Nanjing for at least a period of time, and the next step was likely to launch an attack on Zhejiang first. Therefore, the first two to three months, that is, the best time in Hubei, must quickly establish oneself.
The 20th and 22nd Regiment were sent to Hubei to enhance combat effectiveness and stabilize the results of the previous stage. At the same time, a group of civilian personnel would also be sent to assist Li Dingguo's work. Of course, once the situation was found to be wrong
, you can also take them back immediately.
Third, in the first half a year or so, the main purpose was to disperse troops and carry out guerrilla operations, with the main purpose of annihilation of the Qing army's live forces, and try to obtain food, materials and other supplies from the Qing army. Zhejiang mainly provides weapons and ammunition.
and funding. The activity area is mainly in the countryside or in the mountains. It is absolutely forbidden to attack large and medium-sized cities. The county town can be attacked at appropriate times, but after annihilation of the enemy and obtaining replenishment, retreat immediately and in the county town as little as possible.
Stay to avoid being besieged by the Qing army. The weapons used are mainly rifles and grenades, and are equipped with only a small number of small field artillery and shoulder-mounted thunderbolt rocket launchers.
Fourth, we must pay attention to military discipline, handle the relationship between local people, gain the support of the people, and strengthen publicity work, so that the people can fully understand that the merchant army is different from other armies in the Ming Dynasty and the importance of resisting the Qing army.
.At the same time, we must fully mobilize the enthusiasm of the people and provide necessary help to the merchant army. This is also an important condition for the merchant army to gain a foothold in Hubei.
Li Dingguo had no objection to these requirements. He had read the summary of guerrilla tactics written by Shang Yi very seriously. At the same time, he also had examples on the Shandong battlefield and had personal experience, so he also had full confidence in this battle.
Although Li Dingguo also knew that this battle was indeed very dangerous, since he followed Zhang Xianzhong since he was over 10 years old, he has been with the danger. He was besieged by the Ming army several times, almost a little life or death, but every time he actually
They all miraculously escaped from the road of life.
This time, it was just a life of wandering around and fighting everywhere. Li Dingguo had long been used to this kind of life. Moreover, the team he led now is really a world of stop compared to Zhang Xianzhong back then.
The difference.
At the same time, great danger means great profit. During the Battle of Jianghuai, Li Dingguo was just a regiment commander, but after winning a series of victories in the external battle, Li Dingguo also became the division commander, and was also among the nine infantry divisions of the merchant army.
The only one is not a commander from the Shandong division, but also a general who is an important general in the merchant army. Therefore, if you succeed this time, you may be promoted to commander and make achievements.