Chapter 452 The troops are approaching the city II
"If the intelligence is correct, I believe the Ming army will launch a general attack on Yongding Gate early tomorrow morning."
Huang Taiji pointed at the map gently, then looked at the generals: "Amin and Mang Gurtai are dead, but they bought us a lot of time. The people from Jierhalang and Horqin are here. No?"
Qitat, the king of Horqin County, and Sebuteng, the king of Bahrain County, who stayed in Beijing, walked into the Qianqing Palace from their younger brother Manzhu Xili. For them, this may be the last time they appear in this palace built by the Ming Dynasty. The majestic palace.
"I have met His Majesty..."
Huang Taiji is also wearing a military uniform. It is wartime now, and he is no longer in the mood to wear a dragon robe and sit on a dragon chair: "Man Zhu practices rituals, when will your brother's soldiers and horses arrive?"
Manzhu practiced the ritual and beat his chest with his right hand and saluted: "Khan Tian, after receiving the news, my brother Sebuteng took the people of his tribe to prepare to march eastward. Counting the days, we should arrive in these days."
In accordance with Dorgon's suggestion, Huang Taiji ordered the Horqin and Bahrain Mongolian tribes to mobilize all their troops to Beijing to participate in the war a month ago. According to his estimation, the two Mongolian troops together could at least make up for it. There were hundreds of thousands of people, but now that the war was imminent, none of the two Mongolian messengers came, which made him somewhat dissatisfied.
At this moment, the Forbidden City is no longer in a situation where notification is required before entering. Yue Tuo rode his horse until he arrived at the Qianqing Gate before dismounting and ran quickly into the palace gate: "Your Majesty, Goshiha from the city came to report that the original Ming Dynasty Some lords are ready to take action and may do something detrimental to our Qing Dynasty."
"Hauge..." Huang Taiji looked at his eldest son standing aside: "Take the people and take all these people into custody and take them to the city gate of Yongding Gate." After saying that, he looked at Ning and me: "Mr. Ning, What do you think about bringing Zhou Kuina’s guys up there too?”
Ning Wan, I nodded in agreement: "Zhu Cixiang is no longer useful. Didn't Chen Cao flaunt his respect for the descendants of the Zhu family? He and Zhou Kui were put on the city wall together. Although it would not have any effect on the overall situation, they were the heirs of Emperor Chongzhen after all. He was If we succeed, the scholars in the south will also make a big fuss in this regard, which will also be beneficial to our Qing Dynasty in the future."
It was still dark, but the people in the vanguard group suddenly found that the top of Yongdingmen City was suddenly full of people, and the crowds were crowded, as if something had happened.
Not long after, Chen Cao, who was being served by Li Waner and Weng Meixin, received a report from Zhao Xin. By the time the group arrived in front of the formation, Song Che had already noticed Chen Cao's arrival and rushed back anxiously: "Your Majesty, Let’s take a look at the top of the city first.”
Chen Cao raised his telescope. There was a picture hanging on the city wall. It was very large, as if it was specially for the Ming army to see. It said "Ming Taizi Zhu Cihong" in six big characters. Chen Cao did see a child being raped by someone. Standing on the top of the female wall.
Zhao Xin said: "Your Majesty, that boy is indeed Zhu Cihong. The old man next to him is the former abbot Zhou Kui. Several people next to Zhou Kui are his heirs."
Chen Cao put down the telescope and remained silent. Upon seeing this, Xin Zhao whispered: "I am guilty. After the failure of the last operation, Zhu Cixiang was detained in the Forbidden City. His men can no longer attack."
It took Chen Cao a long time to speak loudly: "Zhou Kui, the head of the Chongzhen Dynasty, ignored the righteousness of his family and united the state to rebel, intending to overthrow the political power of our Han family. Such treacherous people ignored the thousands of years of efforts of our Han family to educate the people. Justice, you should be killed, you all heard clearly. There are testimonies from Zhu Yanrong, Duke Baoguo, and Gao Panlong from the Tianqi Dynasty, confirming that Zhu Cixiang, the crown prince of the Chongzhen Dynasty, was killed after he rebelled in Jianzhou and entered the city. What they are doing now is really unnecessary. , in order to disturb the morale of our Ming army, what should you do?"
Xin Zhao immediately shouted: "Recapture the capital, kill the Tatars, kill the rebels..."
"Recapture the capital, kill the Tatars, kill the rebels..."
"Recapture the capital, kill the Tatars, kill the rebels..."
"Recapture the capital, kill the Tatars, kill the rebels..."
With the leader in charge, the shouts came one after another. Soon, Hauge, who was at the head of Yongdingmen City two miles away, could clearly hear the shouts of the Ming army outside the city.
Zhou Kui was already trembling. He never thought that the Ming army would have a chance to attack the city of Beijing. Ever since the soldiers broke into his mansion last night and started arresting people, he had a premonition that something was wrong.
Hauge sneered, looked at Zhou Kui and said, "Zhou Kui, do you see that you are of no use to Chen Cao at all? Even this kid Zhu Cihong is just a stepping stone for him."
Zhou Kui, who had a high desire to survive, immediately shouted: "Prince Su, I am useful, I am useful. I know that Chen Cao has treated my daughter well. As long as I don't die, my daughter will definitely be able to help me."
Hauge shook his head gently: "I'm afraid you won't be able to wait until that day."
Ji Erhalang walked up to the city and nodded towards Hauge: "Everything is ready. As long as the Ming army starts to attack the city, they will never come back. But Hauge, if Yongding Gate is abandoned, the outer city will not be able to be saved." of."
Hauge also had a serious look on his face: "Dorgon ran in Lugou Bridge and Huangcun, containing most of the Ming army's forces, luring the Ming army to attack the city and then counterattack. This is indeed what Mr. Ning and Mr. Fan meant. I My father also agreed, success or failure depends on this, you just have to defend the city."
On both sides of Yongding Gate, people with Han banners were carrying gunpowder in the city. They had heard about the big explosion at Wang Gong's factory after they entered Beijing. The power of the explosion at that time should not be underestimated. Now Ning Wanwo proposed a plan to voluntarily abandon Yongding Gate and use Yongding Gate as bait to dig a hole for the Ming army. According to the records of the Ministry of Works, they placed gunpowder around Yongding Gate with the same power as the Wanggong Factory explosion at that time, with only more Quite a few, just to deal a heavy blow to the Ming army.
When the two sides were preparing for the battle, in the Taiji Hall, Huang Taiji, who had already packed everything, looked at Fan Wencheng who tried his best to dissuade him and said: "Mr. Fan, if you win this battle, that's all. If you lose, I, the Qing Dynasty, will not have to withdraw. Let’s go, the Forbidden City cannot be left to Chen Cao.”
"Absolutely not..." Fan Wencheng tried his best to dissuade him: "Your Majesty, it is precisely because of the existence of the Forbidden City that the city of Beijing has meaning. If so, I mean if something unspeakable happens in this battle, at that time Setting fire to the Forbidden City means fighting against the Ming Dynasty. If it is left to exist, Your Majesty, think about it. The joy of regaining the capital can wash away all needs. At that time, we, the Qing Dynasty, will have enough time to evacuate. .”
Huang Taiji looked at Ning Wanwo, who also frowned. It was obvious that Huang Taiji was seeking Ning Wanwo's opinion.
Ning Wan and I also thought about it for a long time, and then said slowly: "Perhaps... what Xian Dou said has a tenable basis. Your Majesty, I think this matter can be discussed."
Fan Wencheng breathed a sigh of relief. He was not trying to save the palace, but he was really thinking about the future of the Qing Dynasty, because burning down the Forbidden City was no different from destroying the entire city of Beijing. Or maybe the actual effect would be much greater than it is now. .
Before the details were clear, the roar of cannons began to sound. Huang Taiji did not care about the escape route of the Forbidden City, and led the people out of Taiji Hall and rushed to the outer city.
The sound of cannons roared. In order to prevent the gunpowder at Yongding Gate from being affected, Jierharang specially moved the Hongyi cannons guarding the city to the wall one mile away from Yongding Gate. In this way, they became the bright lights outside the city. On the other hand, at the Ming Army artillery position, when they discovered that the artillery fire was coming from both sides of Yongding Gate, they suppressed it with artillery fire under the command of Ning Guoxing.
"What kind of play is this?"
Chen Cao put down his telescope and looked at Li Yan. Li Yan could also see clearly: "I can't judge for the moment, but they moved the artillery outside Yongding Gate, perhaps to prevent the troops behind the city gate from being hit by artillery. Strike.”
"Then separate some of the artillery. After suppressing their firepower, all the remaining artillery will be fired at the tower of Yongding Gate."
Before Chen Cao could give a specific order, a fast horse came: "Your Majesty, the Longwu Army defeated the Tatar army in Huangcun. At this moment, the large army is rushing to the scheduled combat position, and the remaining army was ordered to pursue the Tatar cavalry." went."
The shouts of killing in front of the formation suddenly became fierce. Before Chen Cao could speak to the messenger, Zhao Xin rushed over: "Your Majesty, the Tatar cavalry has left the city and is heading towards Brother Yang Lianmaha, our right wing forward. ”
Chen Cao took a deep breath and said: "Go and ask Yan Chun's troops to go behind the Yang Lian brothers' formation and hold down the formation. Also tell him that the Tatar cavalry is coming and going quickly and the enemy must be stopped as a regiment."
"yes..."
Chen Cao turned around and saw Li Waner and Weng Meixin wearing armors coming behind Chen Cao. Chen Cao frowned: "Didn't I tell you to wait at the camp?"
Li Waner came to Chen Cao and whispered: "Husband, I just met the leader of my sixth uncle's personal army."
Chen Cao's brows trembled: "Li Ruzhen?"
Li Waner nodded: "It's him."
Chen Cao thought for a moment: "Li Ruzhen surrendered a little too early. According to what Liu Xingzuo told me back then, he and Yangguli's family had intermarriages. Are you sure his people will contact you?"
Li Waner nodded again: "How dare I lie to you about such a big matter? The leader of his personal army was once one of my grandfather's generals. They basically taught me my kung fu, so of course I know him."
"What's your purpose?"
"My sixth uncle said he is willing to open the city gates and let the army enter the city at the critical moment..."
Chen Cao sneered: "Does he know how powerful he is now? Wan'er, what do you mean?"
Li Waner stopped talking, and Chen Cao sighed: "It doesn't matter, your Li family always knows how to assess the situation, and I admire that too."
Li Waner beamed with joy: "I dare not say anything else. At least if he really returns to the Ming Dynasty anyway and has contributed to helping our army regain the capital, he can avoid death."
Chen Cao looked at Weng Meixin and said, "It seems that the two of you have made a plan. Forget it, call someone here and I will ask myself."
