After the 5000 headquarters began to cross the river, Sun Chuanting silently left everyone.
It was a biting cold wind in Hetuala in November. He wrapped himself in a leather jacket under his cotton armor, but the bone-chilling chill still invaded his lungs.
Sun Chuanting huddled his neck in his cotton armor, ignored the disdainful looks of Kang Yingqian and others, and rode his horse northward under the guard of four soldiers.
"Where are you going, sir?"
Sun Chuanting said loudly without looking back:
"Su Ziqiao!"
Hetuala is surrounded by water to the west and north, and hills to the east and south. There is only one wooden bridge that connects to Fushun on weekdays. This bridge is called Suzi Bridge.
Three days ago, Ye Bushou went to Hetuala for reconnaissance and found that the river was frozen, enough for carriages and artillery.
After Ye Bu took back his report, everyone unanimously decided to cross the river through the ice. The experience of the last bloody battle at Hun River was still before their eyes, and no one was willing to let the soldiers cross the bridge again.
When Liu Zhaosun and his men arrived at the battlefield, they found that part of the wooden bridge with an elegant name had been demolished by slave builders, and the remaining bridge deck could only be used by two horses to run parallel. The number of Kaiyuan troops on the west bank exceeds 10,000. If the whole army is to cross the river from Suzi Bridge, it will take at least a day, and there is no need to think about those heavy artillery.
So Su Ziqiao became useless.
At Sun Chuanting's insistence, after arriving in Hetuala, Marquis Pingliao reluctantly sent more than a hundred firemen to the nearby mountains to cut wood, and urgently widened and strengthened the bridge deck to prevent the so-called accident that Sun said happened. .
Compared with the Hun River, the Suzi River in front of us is much narrower. It is also the dry season now. The east and west banks are less than two hundred steps apart, and they can be covered by bows, arrows and firecrackers.
The flag team in front of the 5000th Headquarters has already landed, but the flag team behind has not yet started to cross the river.
"What's the matter? I know that the army will never come back!"
Sun Chuanting looked up to the sky and sighed.
According to original history, after Sun Chuanting said these words in the 16th year of Chongzhen (1643), he went out to fight Li Zicheng and died in the battle. At this time, it was less than half a year before the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
History is always surprisingly similar. On the eve of the collapse of Ping Liaohou, Sun Chuanting actually said the same thing.
"Sir, we're here!"
A soldier stepped forward and pulled the reins. Sun Chuanting stopped the horse and took out a coconut scoop from his fur coat. He shook it in his hand and there was still some wine. He raised his neck and drank two sips. He felt his body gradually getting warmer. stand up.
In front of Suzi Bridge, one hundred and twenty auxiliary soldiers drawn from each battalion, under the command of the general, shouted slogans and hoisted a heavy pine tree to the bridge deck.
Compared with yesterday, Suzi Bridge has not changed much. The demolished bridge piers on the west bank are still empty, and the wooden boards that were removed from them have not been replaced. The hole exposed in the bridge deck is big enough to sink a carriage.
"Are you taking military orders as a joke? How can you act like this?"
Sun Chuanting was complaining when he looked up and saw Mr. Pu Bao, who was responsible for repairing the bridge, staggering towards him from the ice.
Before he could stand still, he saluted Sun Chuanting.
"Master Sun, why are you here? The east coast has been attacked!"
Sun Chuanting pointed to the missing bridge pier and asked loudly:
"Mr. Pu, what's going on? Mr. Liu asked you and others to build the bridge. Is this how it was built?!"
Pu Gang is the flag captain of the Third Flag Team of the 2000 Headquarters. He has experienced the bloody battle of Hunhe River, fought fiercely and has many clever ideas. He is an effective general under Deng Changxiong. However, this person has a shortcoming, that is, he likes to drink, and he also likes to fight after drinking.
Two days before this departure from Kaiyuan, Pu Gang drank with several other flag captains. After getting drunk, he got into a fight with Cheng Liang of the first flag team because of an argument about the military merits of the bloody battle of Hunhe River. Fortunately, he was pulled away by others in time. When Deng Changxiong found out, he removed him from the post of captain of the banner. Yesterday, he heard from Marquis Pingliao that an officer was needed to supervise the bridge repairs, so he sent Pu Gang here.
"Lord Sun Mingjian, all the trees on the nearby mountains were cut down, and the Tatars burned those that could not be cut down. We brothers worked hard for a long time before we found these pine trees."
Sun Chuanting was shocked. It seemed that Huang Taiji had been well prepared and calculated with intention but without intention.
Such a strong wall and clear field, leaving no grass or trees for Kaiyuan's army, are just to allow the army to cross the river through the ice. What are the traps on the east bank?
Sun Chuanting thought of this, turned to Pu Gang and said:
"Jiannu has such a plan. I'm afraid this battle will be difficult to fight. Mr. Pu, if there are no trees, you won't build the bridge? Go and give me an order to dismantle all the oxen and carriages that have not crossed the river. Use wooden planks to quickly repair the bridge deck!"
After Pu Gang heard this, his face was full of surprise and he murmured:
"Master Sun, our humble duty is to lead troops across the river at this time. It is not our duty to build the bridge. Besides, no one will let us dismantle the carriage. Apart from you, no one else supports the matter of building the bridge. ···”
Sun Chuanting slowly raised his head, looked at Pu Gang calmly, and said word by word:
"This bridge is the line of life and death. A single move can affect the whole body, and it is related to the safety of the army! Pu Gang, I don't care what you did before or how many soldiers you led! Now that you are sent here and under my jurisdiction, you must obey me. General. I suspect that Huang Taiji is deceitful."
"It's Chenshi now. If the bridge becomes impassable in two hours, you, me, and the tens of thousands of troops in front of us will all die without a burial place! But before the army is destroyed, I will kill you first!"
Pu Gang was aroused by Sun Chuanting's words, and he felt brave in his heart. He tore off the bindings, gritted his teeth and tied them to his arms, saying loudly:
"Since this bridge is so important, why didn't you tell me earlier?! Even if I risk my life today, I will lead my brothers to repair the bridge and ensure the passage of the army. If the military plane is missed, Mr. Sun does not need to take action, Mr. Pu will do it on his own Stop it! Cut yourself!"
After Pu Gang finished speaking, he immediately blew the bamboo whistle hanging around his neck. The auxiliary soldiers came forward one after another. Pu Gang pointed at the densely packed cattle and carriages on the shore two miles away and roared:
"Put down what you are doing and follow me!"
Sun Chuanting looked at the retreating backs of the auxiliary soldiers. His expression softened slightly. He took off the coconut ladle and took a sip of wine. He then got on his horse and said to the four soldiers behind him:
"Let's go back with me. Kang Yingqian and the others will definitely not allow it to be demolished."
The soldiers agreed and rode their horses to the front to protect Sun Chuanting.
Suddenly, behind them, several auxiliary soldiers screamed from Su Ziqiao.
"The Tartars have crossed the river! The Tartars have crossed the river!"
Sun Chuanting was shocked and quickly reined in the reins and looked back.
He imagined countless possibilities, but never thought that Huang Taiji would directly cross the river to attack the original army.
Tune the tiger away from the mountain? The bridge deck was in dilapidated condition. How did Jiannu cross the river? Walking off the ice too?
Four guards immediately rode forward and blocked a few steps in front of Sun Chuanting. Two of them raised their bows and arrows, and two of them raised their flintlock muskets, looking at the Suzi River bridge with vigilance.
The screams of people and horses were heard in the distance. Sun Chuanting felt that something was about to happen and shouted loudly to the guards to go back and report the news. The two fusiliary guards hesitated for a moment, then turned off their horses and galloped away.
At this time, five or six Jin soldiers had already rushed to the west bank, led by a general, who was tall and majestic in appearance. He was wearing armor and standing on his horse, looking forward.
The two guards immediately fired heavy arrows, but the enemy general raised a small shield to block them. While they were still shooting again, they heard someone shouting from the bridge:
"I surrender to the people of Liao, and I am not allowed to shoot arrows! Let General Liu come and speak! I have something important to report!"
"No archery allowed! There are only six of us as companions. We are sincere anyway, not a Tatar trick!"
Sun Chuanting looked at the other side carefully. All six of them were lightly dressed and did not wear armor or weapons. Listening to this man's words, he sounded like he had a Kaiyuan accent.
He thought for a moment, then rode forward, stopped the guard who was about to fire an arrow, and shouted to the man:
"I am the Fushun Soldier Bei Dao Sun Chuanting. If you have anything to say, just tell me. May I ask this righteous man his surname?"
The leader on the bridge dismounted and jumped to the shore. The two guards dropped their bows and arrows and drew their sabers. Sun Chuanting shouted at the guards to retreat.
"The criminal Liu Xingzuo has something important to report."
Sun Chuanting was shocked. He had heard Liu Xingzuo's details from the Intelligence Bureau.
Liu Xingzuo was originally from Kaiyuan. In the 40th year of Wanli, he was insulted by the Kaiyuan guard and led his family to defect to Houjin.
This person has outstanding talents and is "smart and considerate". He is highly valued and appreciated by the old slaves. He marries Nurhachi's daughter and becomes his companion like Li Yongfang Tong.
During Lao Nu's reign, Liu Xingzuo had the highest official position among all Han officials, and was also the fastest promoted among Han officials. Nurhaci once gave him a mink coat that he had worn as a show of favor.
Sun Chuanting was quite surprised that such a high-ranking figure from the Hou Jin Dynasty was now taking the initiative to submit his investment.
Sun Chuanting helped Liu Xingzuo up, looked him up and down, added some money, and said with a smile:
"Okay, Marquis Pingliao should have crossed the river by now. Liu Yishi will go back to the camp with me to rest..."
Liu Xingzuo said anxiously:
"Crossing the river? Can't cross the river?"
Sun Chuanting heard the tone and knew that Liu Xingzuo had confidential information, so he quickly said:
"Why not?"
Liu Xingzuo grabbed Sun Chuanting and whispered:
"Tens of thousands of kilograms of gunpowder are buried under the river ice. Huang Taiji is planning to leave all the Kaiyuan artillery on the east bank. The bridge will also be burned. There is a large army of soldiers and horses ambushed in the city of Hetuala, equipped with flintlocks. The White Lotus Sect To cut off your food route, Zu Dashou has led 10,000 Liao troops to the south of Hetuala, preparing to surround you. Huang Taiji said that he wants General Liu to die like Juniper."
Sun Chuanting stayed on the spot. Unexpectedly, the situation was more serious than he thought. He murmured:
"Jinjun, how did you die?"
"During the Saarhu period, Du Song refused to listen to the advice of his generals and insisted on dividing his troops to cross the river, leaving all the baggage and artillery behind. After crossing the river, he was besieged by two yellow flags and a red flag. Finally, he was shot to death by Daishan with an arrow and was killed by Huang Taiji. Cut off the head.”
Sun Chuanting looked at Liu Xingzuo and said in surprise:
"How did you know?"
Liu Xingzuo said anxiously:
"During the Battle of Saarhu, I was also on the north bank of the Hun River, following Lao Nu and Mr. Sun. I was extremely anxious. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's stop the army from crossing the river! Otherwise, Marquis Pingliao will be the next Juniper."
Sun Chuanting looked up to the south. Soldiers from the 5000th headquarters were densely packed all over the river like a swarm of ants. General flags from the 1st and 2000th headquarters began to prepare to cross the river.
"Don't worry, Marquis Ping Liao will survive a hundred battles, and he can win this time. He is not Jun Song."
Lewen
