Emperor Chongzhen no longer asked about money and food matters, but began to get into the topic. At this time, everyone was called here mainly to discuss the overall strategic issues of the Battle of Jinzhou.
At this time, Chen Xinjia, Secretary of the Ministry of War, and Hong Chengchou, Governor of Jiliao, were present. Liu Yan and other general military officers could not get in the conversation, so they all kept silent and watched Chen Xinjia and Hong Chengchou confront each other tit for tat.
Chen Xingjia advocated a four-pronged attack strategy in front of Emperor Chongzhen. He believed that the Ming army, which numbered 250,000, should be divided into groups to attack together, so that the slaves and thieves could not care about each other. In this way, the battle in Liaodong might be decided in one battle.
Hong Chengchou firmly denied it, believing that this battle was a gamble on the fate of the country for the Ming Dynasty, and the same was true for the slave thieves, so the slave thieves would definitely come with overwhelming force, and their strength would probably not be less than that of the Ming army.
"Both sides have equal strength. Our army will not have much advantage in terms of strength. If we divide our forces to attack like this, will we repeat the disastrous defeat of the Battle of Sarhu?"
Hong Chengchou was experienced in military affairs. In comparison, Emperor Chongzhen still trusted Hong Chengchou more. Moreover, Hong Chengchou was close to Ningjin and knew more about the war ahead, and his opinions were more practical.
Although from the bottom of his heart, Emperor Chongzhen supported Chen Xinjia's plan, and he also eagerly hoped that the Ming Dynasty would have a great victory to inspire his fear of the Qing army since Wanli. However, the war was fierce and the war was dangerous. If he were not careful, he would repeat the mistake of the Daling River. The result of destroying the elites of the Nine Sides was something that Emperor Chongzhen could not accept no matter what.
Therefore, Emperor Chongzhen was a little wavering at this time and eagerly hoped that everyone could give him a pertinent opinion.
Among the general military officers present, Emperor Chongzhen paid more attention to Liu Yan's opinions. Although it was the first time he met Liu Yan today, Liu Yan had won two victories against the Qing army, namely the Julu Victory and the Jinan Victory, as well as the beheading. He has the merits of killing Zhang Xianzhong and Zhang Wenxiu, which shows that Liu Yan is not comparable to ordinary warriors in terms of strategy and tactics, so he especially hopes to hear Liu Yan's opinions in person.
Chen Xinjia, Zhang Ruoqi and others have said enough, and Hong Chengchou also talked for a long time, so Emperor Chongzhen asked all the general officers present to express their opinions.
However, with Hong Chengchou and Chen Xinjia present, no one dared to cross the line. They just expressed their opinions that they should work hard and fight for the country diligently.
After everyone had finished speaking, only Liu Yan remained silent. At this time, everyone's eyes were focused on Liu Yan.
Emperor Chongzhen also said: "Why don't Mr. Liu have a talk?"
Liu Yan clasped his fists and said, "I dare you, may your Majesty get the map of Liaodong?"
Before that, everyone had made empty words or directly expressed their determination. Only Liu Yan was so pragmatic. Emperor Chongzhen was so happy that he immediately ordered someone to fetch a map of Liaodong.
Hong Chengchou, Chen Xinjia and all the general officers all changed their colors slightly, but they did not expect Liu Yan to dare to talk in detail in front of Emperor Chongzhen.
Wu Sangui frowned slightly, wondering whether Liu Yan was relying on his talent or not knowing how to advance or retreat. Tang Tong and Ma Ke were waiting to see the joke. In their opinion, the last person who had a friendly chat in front of the emperor was Yuan Chonghuan, who was cut into pieces with a thousand cuts. Presumably, after Liu Yan finished talking, he would not end up like this. Great.
Yang Guozhu and Cao Bianjiao were very worried. They kept gesticulating with their eyes, trying to hint Liu Yan to be more careful and not to talk nonsense.
Wang Pu and the other general officers also had different expressions, and everyone was muttering secretly in their hearts.
Soon, a map of Liaodong was brought.
This map is naturally the most detailed map outside the Pass in the Ming Dynasty. Although it is much worse than the military maps of later generations, it is extremely standard and is very different from the impressionist maps Liu Yan saw before. The maps circulated during the Ming Dynasty were often extremely exaggerated due to the need to keep them secret. The map in front of me is much more real.
Liu Yan first clasped his fists and confessed his crime to Emperor Chongzhen, then stood up, pointed to the cities of Jinzhou and Ningyuan on the map, and said: "Your Majesty, please look at the current situation. It is obvious that the strategy of Donglu is to use Jinzhou as bait." , implement the strategy of encirclement and reinforcements. Therefore, the nearly 200 miles from Jinzhou to Ningyuan is the most critical point. The food road is long during this distance, and the army of slaves and thieves will definitely try their best to cut off our army's food and grass. Don't use any tricks. Once food is exhausted and the food road is cut off, the army is in danger! Even if our army has 250,000 elites, it will not escape the end of annihilation!"
Zhang Ruoqi and others nodded, and Yang Guozhu, Wu Sangui and other generals also looked solemn. The soldiers and horses had not yet moved the food and grass. If the food road was cut off, no matter how powerful the soldiers and horses were, it would be useless.
Emperor Chongzhen also frowned and thought deeply. Liu Yan continued: "Your Majesty, Governor Ji Liaohong has said that this battle should be fought and defended, and the troops cannot be divided to avoid being defeated by the army of slaves and thieves. In this way, I will give you two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers." All the armies must gather in one place, where should they gather? It’s Songshan!”
Of course, everyone understood that Songshan, Xingshan, Tashan, and Ningyuan cities relied on each other and supported each other. If they were Hong Chengchou, they would definitely arrange it this way.
Liu Yan said: "I have gathered armies from nine sides. At this time, there are only 40,000 slaves in Jinzhou. Will they fight our army with 40,000 people? The slave chief's plan is not small, nor is he an easy person. He will definitely overwhelm the country by then. If they come, where will they attack our army?"
At this point, Liu Yan's right hand turned into an arrow, heading west from Jinzhou across Xiaoling River and Nvnu River, then around the Xingshan Mountains, suddenly turned east, focused on Xingshan Fort, and said: "Then It’s here!”
Everyone was shocked, Emperor Chongzhen also looked livid, and his whole body was cold. Liu Yan asserted that slaves and traitors would come to the country, which was very possible.
When the time comes, the slave army storms Xingshan Fort, and there are not many troops in the rear. How can we resist it? Moreover, the Xingshan Mountains are not far from the sea, and Dongnu is the best at digging trenches. He even dug several long trenches in front of Xingshan Fort like he did in Jinzhou. The Songshan army immediately cut off contact with the rear.
Without food and fodder, the army will most likely be defeated, and countless efforts will be lost. Once this 250,000-strong army is defeated, the Ming Dynasty will be in danger!
Emperor Chongzhen snorted heavily and thought to himself: "You have the power in front but no defense in the back. Hong Chengchou said he is good at military affairs, but you can't even see such an obvious mistake?"
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen had the idea of replacing Hong Chengchou, but now that there was no one available in the court, he suppressed this idea.
On the side, Hong Chengchou was shocked when he heard this, and then glared at Liu Yan. He valued Liu Yan so much, but this person was trying to undermine me in front of His Majesty. What was his intention!
Liu Yan naturally noticed Hong Chengchou's gaze, but he was not afraid: "What a joke! I will not let myself and 80,000 to 90,000 soldiers take risks just to give you face!"
At this time, Chen Xinjia was overjoyed and secretly thought that Liu Yan was indeed a genius in military management and warfare, and he was also so outstanding in terms of strategy.
Emperor Chongzhen immediately said: "As the saying goes: If you don't predict victory, predict defeat first. Send reinforcements to relieve the siege of Jinzhou. At least we must ensure that we are undefeated, right? If the army falls into despair, where will I find reinforcements?"
Hong Chengchou immediately kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, forgive me. This is my negligence. Fortunately, General Liu reminded me that I must defend the retreat with heavy troops to prevent slave thieves from cutting off our army's food route!"
Emperor Chongzhen pointed to Xingshan and said: "This is the best! The army's rear route must be guarded. What is the strategy for the rest? General Liu will guide me carefully."
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen saw that Hong Chengchou was being compared to Liu Yan, so he became convinced of Liu Yan and couldn't wait for Liu Yan to continue his explanation.
But Liu Yan knew that he had said enough. After all, the commander of the army was Hong Chengchou. If he continued to talk, he would be overstepping his authority, completely offending Hong Chengchou to death, and he would be deliberately targeted on the battlefield.
Now Liu Yan reminded Hong Chengchou that it would be better to accept it as soon as possible, so Liu Yan said: "The next step is to fight bloody battles with slaves in Songshan and Xingshan. Advance step by step to see who can outlast whom. If possible, take advantage of it. If we have the opportunity, we can implement the four-pronged offensive strategy described by Chen Xinjia."
"My army is outside, and the slaves dare not attack Jinzhou. There are few soldiers in the East, so it is not easy to form an army. Each and every one of them will die. They cannot defeat our Ming Dynasty. As long as they feel that the gains are not worth the losses, they will automatically withdraw their troops, and the siege of Jinzhou will be lifted. They retreat , the spirit is lost. If my master is strong, he can attack the Daling River and Yizhou, and regain the lost territory for my Ming Dynasty."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded repeatedly. The plan Liu Yan mentioned was still very sound, and this was exactly Hong Chengchou's plan all along. Emperor Chongzhen also knew it, so Liu Yan's words at this time could be regarded as giving Hong Chengchou face.
Emperor Chongzhen pondered. Although he wanted a glorious victory, he felt that it was unrealistic. If we take back Yiju and other places, we will have an explanation for both the government and the public. Recovering the lost territory is also considered a great victory, and the benefits to the morale of the army are self-evident.
This summons ended only after Shen Cai. Everyone was very excited and still intoxicated in the conversation they had just had with the emperor.
The next day, outside Desheng Gate.
At the beginning of the morning, the area around the campus outside Deshengmen was already crowded with people. Today was the time for the emperor's military parade, and almost all the people in the capital who could move were here. The taller buildings near the school grounds were all occupied, and the houses at the alley entrances beside the school grounds were also densely packed with people.
From Deshengmen Street to the entrance of the school field, there was a huge flow of people. This made the officers and soldiers of Shuntian Mansion busy. Together with the soldiers from the Beijing camp, they formed a cordon to block the surging crowd. Leaving it outside, everyone was sweating profusely from exhaustion.
In the school grounds, troops from Qinglai Town's New Army, Xuanzhen Army, Datong Army, Shanxi Army and other towns formed their own formations and stood neatly on the school grounds as early as possible. They formed countless phalanxes one after another, with almost no end in sight.
Only some of the more than 250,000 soldiers who went on the expedition were inside the school grounds, and most of the soldiers were still gathering outside the school grounds. After all, the school grounds could not accommodate so many soldiers and horses.
There were countless celebrities from the capital who were allowed to enter the school grounds. The huge school grounds were packed to the brim, and the grounds were densely packed with heads.
At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, the sound of mountains shouting "Long Live the Mountain" came from the capital. The sound came along the way, and the huge sound wave seemed to blow away the clouds in the sky. Amidst the sound of great music, Emperor Chongzhen was led by three thousand cavalry from Shenshu Camp, and his cavalry entered the school grounds one after another.
Pulled by twelve horses, in front of his large chariot, there are dense yellow deer, missionary flags, warning flags, green dragon banners, white tiger banners, Xuanwu banners, as well as various single dragon fans, double dragon fans, embroidered fans, etc. They emerge in endlessly, showing the emperor's majesty, broadness and solemnity.
After the great emperor arrived, he was closely followed by hundreds of civil and military officials.
The master of the Jiaofang plays the good-luck song of Yan Jing, and the magnificent music sounds like the Emperor Ming Yu Ji Xi, far away Shao Yu and Tang Dynasty. The river is clear and the sea is flowing, and things are prosperous and the people are prosperous. Wei Jiayi and Qiang Xi, virtue is defeated by Rong Qiang..."
Amid the music, Emperor Chongzhen rode on horseback for a military parade. He was dressed in military uniform, wearing a phoenix-winged helmet, long body armor, arms and hands, and a sword hanging from his waist. The armor was all painted bright yellow.
Hong Chengchou, Liu Yan, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Wu Sangui, Cao Bianjiao and others, also dressed in military uniforms, rode horses and lined up behind them.
The crowd gathered around Emperor Chongzhen and rode on horseback, passing by military formations one after another.
In the military formation, a majestic voice suddenly shouted, "Long live my emperor!" "
All the soldiers shouted in unison, long live, long live, long live! "
The momentum of the voice seemed to reach thousands of miles. Countless people raised their weapons and won victory! Won victory! Won victory!
Emperor Chongzhen sat on his horse and looked at the jubilant army, feeling excited. Especially when passing through several square formations of the New Army in Qinglai Town, Emperor Chongzhen was even more shocked by the appearance and equipment of the New Army, and his excitement was beyond words.
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen silently prayed in his heart for the protection of his ancestors, for the great victory in Liaodong, and for future generations to be able to revive the Ming Dynasty.
Some people died, but not completely...
