Outside Xinzhou City, Li Zicheng stood high-spirited on the newly built high platform. Liu Zongmin, Li Guo, Li Laiheng and other generals, as well as four military advisers Li Yan, Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance, and Gu Junen, surrounded Li Zicheng in the middle, wearing a brand-new hat. The bright yellow umbrella cover was also raised, just covering Li Zicheng.
Li Zicheng has changed from his past frugality, and his daily expenses are closer to those of an emperor. This umbrella cover was made by craftsmen two days ago. Li Yan, Li Dingguo, Gu Junen and others saw it and shook their heads and sighed.
At this time, Li Zicheng looked at Xinzhou City in the distance and saw the Ming army soldiers on the city wall reorganizing their defenses. Under the city, hundreds of thousands of troops had already deployed in full force, surrounding the huge city and extending to more than ten miles in all directions. outside.
Such a spectacular sight made Li Zicheng want to shout to the sky. Only in this way can he vent the heroic spirit in his heart. This feeling of scolding Fang Qiu and pointing the country made Li Zicheng very fascinated, and he was trapped in it and could not extricate himself.
"Your Majesty, all battalions have been deployed. Shall we attack?"
According to Li Zicheng's deployment, the front camp of the bandits was in the north, the rear camp was in the south, the left camp was in the west, and the middle camp was in the east. The firearms battalion led by Li Dingguo was also deployed in the east. The east of the city was the main attack direction of the bandit army.
At this time, Li Guo saw that the flags of all the battalions were in place, so he asked. Li Zicheng thought for a moment and said: "We have gone through many hardships since we raised our troops alone. Up to now, powerful enemies such as Sun Chuanchuan, Meng Ruhu, Cao Bianjiao, and Cao Wenzhao have all been crowned. , there are only two powerful enemies left in the world, Hong Chengchou and Liu Yan. Today, the army surrounded Xinzhou City, and Hong Chengchou has already spread his wings.
Difficult to fly, if we capture the city, the road to Beijing for our Dashun soldiers will be smooth sailing! "
Li Guo looked at the high-spirited Li Zicheng and felt a little more worried in his heart. As the saying goes, arrogant soldiers will be defeated. Although Hong Chengchou's troops are trapped in Xinzhou City, there are 110,000 troops, and they are all nine. The border troops are elite and forcing a siege is actually a bad idea.
So Li Guo said: "Your Majesty, the food and grass in the city cannot last for a few days. Should we besiege it for a few days first and then attack?"
Li Zicheng pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement and said, "That's fine. Let's order each battalion to set up camp on the spot to prevent Hong Chengchou's troops from making a surprise attack. Let the soldiers rest for three days and then attack the city."
"yes."
Li Guo, Li Yan and others immediately breathed a sigh of relief: King Chuang has not messed up his mind yet!
Hong Chengchou in the city felt heavy when he saw that the bandit army did not attack the city but began to set up camp.
In the current situation, Hong Chengchou is not worried about the bandit army attacking the city. There are 110,000 troops in the city, so there is no problem in defending Xinzhou City. However, the bandit army chose to besiege the city. This was the situation that Hong Chengchou was most worried about. There was no food in the city!
"For the current plan, we can only place our hope in Your Majesty to recruit Liu Yan's troops to join the war as soon as possible!"
At the same time, in Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen was as distressed by the current situation as Hong Chengchou.
Emperor Chongzhen had now learned that Hong Chengchou had led his troops to the north, but the army's money and food supplies had been cut off. Emperor Chongzhen was so anxious that he summoned Chen Xingjia, the Minister of War, and Li Daiwen, the Minister of Household Affairs, to discuss raising money and food supplies for Hong Chengchou's army.
However, Chen Xinjia and Li Daiwen were helpless. At this time, the financial resources of the DPRK were at a loss.
After being exhausted, the two of them worked for more than ten days in a row before raising 150,000 taels of silver and 40,000 shi of grain. This amount of supplies was not enough to consume the 110,000-strong army.
"Your Majesty, the price of rice in the capital has tripled. Even the people in the city can no longer afford food. There is really nothing I can do!"
Li Daiwen complained, not to mention that the court had no money, even if it had money, it couldn't afford it at the current price of food.
Chen Xinjia on the side was even more anxious. The soldiers and horses in Hong Chengchou's hands could be said to be the last mobile force of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, this excluded Liu Yan. After all, Emperor Chongzhen was determined to hide Liu Yan in the snow.
And if something goes wrong with this Ming Dynasty's last trump card, the world will collapse right before our eyes, and Chen Xinjia, the Minister of War, is destined to be buried with him!
So Chen Xinjia gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, I heard that the houses of dignitaries and relatives of the emperor and relatives in the capital have a lot of food stored in them, and many people even have so much food that they are moldy. Your Majesty can order the Beizhen Fusi to inspect every place and make a decision. It’s rewarding!”
As soon as these words came out, Emperor Chongzhen and Li Daiwen were both dumbfounded: Chen Xinjia, are you too anxious and confused to understand what crazy talk you are talking about?
Li Daiwen said coldly: "Master Chen, you should take back this proposal. If the ministers of the DPRK hear it, you, Master Chen, may not survive tonight!"
Emperor Chongzhen naturally knew that what Chen Xinjia said was true, but he couldn't do it. After all, the court still needed the support of those dignitaries, and he, the emperor, also needed their protection. How could he abandon his foundation for money and food?
"Chen Aiqing be careful! This discussion is over and must not be spread."
Chen Xinjia was stunned for a moment, then said dejectedly: "Yes
, I understand. "
Emperor Chongzhen said: "If it doesn't work, I will first stop the salaries of all the officials in the capital. Then I will take out all the remaining two hundred thousand taels of silver in the internal funds. I will exchange it for as much food as I can and send it to Hong Chengchou first." !”
Li Daiwen and Chen Xinjia had no other better ideas, so they all took orders.
At this moment, Wang Chengen ran into the hall in panic. Under the astonished gazes of Emperor Chongzhen, Chen Xinjia, and Li Daiwen, he tripped and fell to the ground.
"Your Majesty! Urgent report from the border!"
Emperor Chongzhen stood up in shock, and Chen Xinjia ran over directly and received an urgent report from Wang Chengen.
Emperor Chongzhen raised his heart and said loudly: "Nian!"
Chen Xinjia hurriedly opened it, and after just one glance, his expression suddenly changed: "Your Majesty, in the middle of last month, the Qing army raided Jinzhou City, and Zu Dashou led his troops to surrender in Kaicheng!"
"Where is Ningyuan City? Why don't the soldiers and horses over there save Jinzhou!"
Chen Xinjia said with a mournful face: "Your Majesty, soldiers and horses from various towns in Liaodong have been transferred into the pass. There are no soldiers in Ningyuan City. Moreover, after the Qing army captured Jinzhou, they took advantage of the situation and captured Ningyuan City."
"What!"
Emperor Chongzhen fell on the dragon throne in despair. Once Ningyuan City and Jinzhou City were lost, all the territory outside Shanhaiguan was lost. All the results of the previous Battle of Jinzhou were lost in one day!
"O ancestors!"
Emperor Chongzhen cried loudly, but was suppressed by the shout of a eunuch: "Your Majesty! Urgent report from the border: The slave chief Taiji personally leads an army of more than 200,000 people to break through the border and go south!"
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen, Chen Xinjia, and Li Daiwen were completely dumbfounded. The house leaked and it rained all night. The life and death of Hong Chengchou's tribe was still uncertain.
More than 200,000 Qing troops are approaching. Is the Ming Dynasty really going to be defeated?
Chen Xinjia tremblingly received the second emergency report, opened it and read: Huang Taiji saw that Ming troops from various towns in Liaodong were entering the pass, so he led his army to take advantage of the situation. After seizing the entire territory of Liaodong, he led more than 200,000 troops. They entered the pass in two ways: the left-wing troops entered by destroying the Great Wall at Gubeikou, and the right-wing troops entered from Yanmen Pass and Huangyakou. Now these two groups of Qing troops have converged at the foot of Jizhou City.
Emperor Chongzhen glared at Chen Xinjia and said angrily: "The Qing army has already entered the pass and has attacked Jizhou City. Why didn't the defenders along the way report? How did you become the Minister of War!"
Chen Xinjia is also full of resentment. Now there are no soldiers and horses in the entire Jiubian. Except for the Ma Ke Department in Shanhaiguan Town, they are all in the hands of Hong Chengchou. This is also the reason why the Qing army was able to break through the barrier quickly.
Is it possible to report military information to those at the stations along the way? Now that the imperial court can still receive this urgent message, it is already burning incense!
"Your Majesty, there are no soldiers and horses on the nine sides and along the way. Who is going to report it in advance?"
Emperor Chongzhen was so choked that he rolled his eyes, and then said angrily: "Immediately give an order to Ma Ke, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan Town, and order him to lead his troops as King Qin!"
"Yes, King Qin!"
As if he had grasped a life-saving straw, Emperor Chongzhen said loudly: "Immediately recruit the best soldiers from all over the world to join King Qin in Beijing!"
Chen Xinjia said: "I accept the order! But now all the troops and horses that can be mobilized have followed Hongge Lao to fight against Li Zicheng. The other troops and horses from various places are either unavailable or too far away to catch up. There are no troops available around the capital... "
"As for the Horse Department, Your Majesty
, this person is useless, the soldiers and horses in Shanhaiguan Town can defend the city, but if they attack the Qing army in the field, they will definitely be defeated at the first touch! "
"Then what do you think we should do?"
Emperor Chongzhen said angrily: "Go quickly and summon the best soldiers from all over the world to come to Beijing to serve the king!"
Chen Xinjia asked: "Dare you ask Your Majesty, King Qin's troops include Liu Yan, Governor of Shandong?"
Emperor Chongzhen was stunned for a moment, and after a moment, he said bitterly: "No matter who it is, find me!"
"My lord, take the order!"
Just when Chen Xinjia was in a hurry to send out the news about King Qin, Huang Taiji was already stationed outside Ma Jizhou City.
Under the huge bright yellow umbrella, Huang Taiji's fat body sat firmly on the war horse. The unusually handsome horse was panting at this time, as if it was overwhelmed.
Prince Rui Dorgon, Prince Yu Duduo, Prince Wuying Azig, Prince Li Daishan, Anping Beile Dudu, Prince Su Hauge, Raoyu Beile Abatai, Prince Zheng Jierhalang, and Zhenghuang Banner Gushan Ezhen Ashan, Xianghuangqi Gushan, Ezhenbaiyintu followed on horseback. Everyone was wearing fine armor, and they were surrounded by capable Bajala cavalry of various banners.
Behind the crowd were Mongolian banner leaders such as Adai, Dalai Lama, Engetu, and Buyendai, as well as Gushan'e Zhen'embu Chuhuer of Tumed Right Banner, and Gu Shan'e of Tumed Left Banner. Zhenshanba, Inner and Outer Kalaqin, Chahar, Horqin, Left and Right Wing Zhongqi, Aohan and Alu Banners Wangye Beile.
At the end of the group of banner owners are Geng Zhongming, Ma Guangyuan, Kong Youde, Shang Kexi and other traitors of the Han army banner.
According to the information provided by Xizuo, Li Zicheng has established Dashun, which is likely to sweep the world. Under this situation, Huang Taiji can't help but
He will sit back and do nothing, even if he is seriously ill, he still wants to lead his army into the pass to get a share of the pie.
Therefore, this time Huang Taiji can be said to have gone out in full force, mobilizing all the main forces of the Manchu, Han, and Mongolian Eight Banners, as well as the Mongolian ministries of the outer vassals. The total strength of the various ministries is more than 360,000, which is more than the number received by the Ministry of War. many!
Now the only men left in the rear of the Manchu Qing Dynasty are old and weak children under the age of twelve and over sixty. It can be said that this is a huge gamble by Huang Taiji. If he wins the bet, he can occupy the rich lands and cities of the Ming Dynasty and fight against the Qing Dynasty. If they lose, the Qing Dynasty will fall into a situation that is beyond redemption!
"All the soldiers and horses of the Ming Dynasty were destroyed, but Liu Yan's troops in Shandong remained untouched. They were a serious concern for the Qing Dynasty."
Huang Taiji said coldly: "Fortunately, each banner of the Han army has practiced firearms troops and a large number of artillery. This time, each banner of the Han army has 400 artillery pieces, which is enough to inflict heavy damage to Liu Yan's department!"
Dorgon's expression on the side remained unchanged, but his heart was already churning. Since Huang Taiji's defeat in the Battle of Jinzhou, his health has been deteriorating. Dorgon even thought that Huang Taiji's life was not long.
But who would have thought that Huang Taiji's vitality was so tenacious that he managed to survive. Regardless of the opposition of his ministers, he vigorously built the banners of the Han army, forged artillery, expanded the firearms army, and forcibly rebuilt the combat power of the Eight Banners. Fan.
Even Dorgon had to admit that he was indeed inferior to Huang Taiji in terms of military and political management.
At this time, Dorgon looked at Huang Taiji, who was a little out of breath after finishing speaking, and said in his heart: "I want to see if you can come back alive during this thousand-mile expedition!"
