Breaking out of the encirclement and fighting mobile warfare on the outside of the Qing army's defense line, instead of continuing to fight positional warfare and attrition warfare with them within the Qing army's encirclement, was the only way to survive that Wang Wu had thought about over and over again in the past few days.
This tactic was also used by the Dashun Army, the predecessor of the Loyalty Battalion, when it fought against the Ming Army.
Commonly known as rogue tactics.
At that time, Li Zicheng used this tactic to bring down hundreds of thousands of Ming Dynasty central regular troops and completely destroyed the foundation of Ming Dynasty rule. However, when the Shun army transformed into the Ming army that insisted on Ming Zuo, they abandoned this tactic and fought in the Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River. The Qing army conducted encirclement and counter-encirclement operations for more than ten years.
The reason why the Ming army was not wiped out by the Qing army was not because of how capable the Ming army in Kuidong, with the Shun army as the main force, was, but because the complex terrain in the Three Gorges area provided strong conditions for the Ming army to hold on.
At the same time, it was also because the main force of the Qing army was contained by the southwestern Ming army.
The predecessor of the Southwest Ming Army was the Daxi Army led by Zhang Xianzhong, and was later led by his adopted sons Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo.
The main force of the Ming Army in the southeast was the pirate troops led by Zheng Chenggong, commonly known as Guo Xingye.
Therefore, the last defenders of the Ming Dynasty were firstly bandits and secondly pirates.
Most of the Ming Dynasty's own regular army became the vanguard of the Qing army - the Green Camp.
It has to be said that it is a historical irony and a tragedy for the Han nation.
After the Southwest Ming Army and the Southeast Ming Army were defeated one after another, the Kuidong Ming Army occupying dangerous places in the three provinces naturally became an existence that the Qing government had to destroy.
The perseverance of Liu Tichun, Li Laiheng, Hao Yaoqi, Yuan Zongdi and others is certainly worthy of praise and admiration, but their perseverance strategy is destined to have no chance of victory under the heavy encirclement and suppression by the Qing army.
Only when Kuidongjiu, which had been in business for more than ten years, gave up from the beginning, could the cause of Ming Ming have a chance.
Of course, Wang Wu knew that it was not Liu Tichun and the others who were unwilling to stand out, but that the Kuidong Ming Army itself was too complex and the command system was chaotic. Some people were willing to leave, while others did not.
And after the news of the fall of the Yongli court came, many Ming generals completely lost confidence and surrendered to the Qing army, causing Liu Tichun and others to miss the best opportunity to break out.
In addition, the Qing court used its troops too quickly, giving the Ming army no chance to break out.
In this regard, I have to say that Li Guoying, the governor of Sichuan in the Qing Dynasty, was a capable person.
It was Li's hard push that led to today's situation where more than 100,000 Qing troops have gathered in Kuidong.
At present, the Qing army's encirclement has tightly surrounded the Ming army like a hoop.
Even so, Wang Wu also believes that there is still a chance to break through.
It is basically impossible for a large army to break through, but it is not necessarily impossible for a small group of troops to break through.
Although the total number of Ming troops remaining in Wujiayuanzi is less than a thousand, the victory lies in the unity of the people and the determination to fight the Qing army to the end. Therefore, as long as Ma Sizhong and Xu Deyi agree to work with him to break out of the Qing army's encirclement, they can rely on their opposition to the Qing army. Familiar with the terrain, Wang Wu was 30% sure that he could stand out from the Qing army's blockade.
Instead of retreating to other places and continuing to be besieged by the Qing army.
Jump from one dead corner of the board to another.
"Put it out?"
Ma Sizhong and Xu Deyi looked at each other with solemn expressions.
Tian Wen had read the book and knew that being trapped was not a long-term solution, so he asked: "What should we do after the protrusion is removed?"
Wang Wu immediately expressed his thoughts.
That is, after protruding out, they moved outside the encirclement of the Qing army, using "rogue tactics" to destroy the Qing army's baggage transportation lines, harass their rear, and even use coercion to destroy the basis of urban governance in the rear of the Qing army. In this way, the Qing army could not be killed in large numbers. The Qing army was also enough to disturb the Qing army and make it difficult for them to sleep and eat, and it would also inevitably mobilize the Qing army in the encirclement.
"Change from passive to active! As long as we can mobilize the Qing army in the encirclement, Commander Tiger and the other commanders will be able to persevere, and even have a chance to lead a large group of troops to rush out. By then, the sea will be wide for fish to leap, and the sky is high for birds to leap. Fly! Even if we still can't defeat the Tatars, we will still break some of their teeth!"
Wang Wu sincerely hoped that Lao Shunjun could break out of the encirclement with them. Although the old soldiers were old and their physical strength and energy were not as good as those of the young people, their combat experience was incomparable to that of the young people.
It can be said that these old Shun soldiers are all ready-made instructors and non-commissioned officers. After they stand out, these people will be used as the backbone of the grassroots level. In a short period of time, they can build a team to continue working with the Qing army.
If the situation develops well, he, Wang Wu, can even pull out a force no less powerful than Li Laiheng, letting the Qing court feel the power of Han people's revenge!
Ma Sizhong thought for a moment and said with some worry: "It is definitely a good thing to stand out, but there are more than 20,000 Qing troops outside our perimeter. They not only control various important transportation areas, but also occupy all the dangerous passes in and out of the mountains. I’m afraid we won’t be able to charge head-on.”
Xu Deyi didn't speak, but his eyes told Wang Wu that he didn't think he could stand out with his current manpower.
Last month, Suo Yanlong commanded more than 8,000 Ming troops but failed to break through the Qing army's defense line, which already shows how difficult it is to break through.
Wang Wu was certainly prepared for this, and said hurriedly: "I have a man named Zhao Jinzhong who is a local and is very familiar with this mountainous area. As long as we act secretly, it is possible to break out in batches."
"oh?!"
Xu Deyi couldn't help but perked up after hearing this, and said excitedly: "If that's the case, I can give it a try!"
Without thinking, Ma Sizhong shook his head and said, "Even if we can get out, we can't leave now!"
Wang Wu was stunned: "Why?"
"Because we are going to save Liu Shuai!"
Ma Sizhong stood up and said that there was chaos in Laomukong, and Liu Shuai's life and death were unknown. What they had to do now was to return to Laomukong to rescue Liu Shuai immediately, instead of just breaking out on their own.
Tian Wen was a little surprised: "Isn't it said that Liu Shuai has been killed?"
"The news only said that Tian Heng and Wan He were in trouble, but it didn't say that Liu Shuai was dead!"
Ma Sizhong said that they had followed Liu Shuai for almost 20 years. Without confirmation that Liu Shuai had been killed, even if he was willing to break out of the encirclement with Wang Wu, his veterans would not.
"Yes, we have to save Liu Shuai first!"
Xu Deyi, who came back to his senses, actually started to blame himself.
"this..."
Tian Wen didn't know how to express his position, so he just looked at the captain.
Wang Wu was also thinking that Suo Yanlong didn't clearly say that Liu Tichun had been killed when he reported the news, so he really didn't dare to say that Liu Tichun was dead now.
Therefore, he could not use Liu Tichun's death as an excuse to prevent Lao Shun's army from returning to aid Lao Mukong.
But without the help of these veterans of the army, even if he took the more than 400 people out, it would not have much effect.
Furthermore, although he was a subordinate of Tian Shouyi, he had lived in Liu Tichun's children's camp for three or four years. It was Liu Tichun who arranged for him to be the general manager of Tian Shouyi's place.
Therefore, regardless of morality or conscience, Wang Wu had no reason not to rescue Liu Tichun.
If he really refuses to save him, what will the officers and soldiers under him who are willing to die with him think of him?
In this current situation, the most important thing is people's hearts!
Thinking of this, Wang Wu no longer hesitated and made up his mind and said to Ma and Xu: "In that case, my two eldest brothers and I will go to Laomukong to rescue Liu Shuai!"
"good!"
Ma and Xu were naturally happy. With Wang Wu and his people helping with the rescue, they would definitely have a better chance of winning.
"Without further delay, please hurry up and get ready. I will also ask people to clean up here. Take away all the materials that can be taken away. If you can't take away, burn it and don't leave it to the Qing army!"
"become!"
Ma and Xu immediately went to summon Laoshun's army to prepare for return reinforcements.
Wang Wu was about to go to the granary and arsenal to check, when Tian Wen behind him suddenly said: "Captain, what if Liu Shuai is dead and Lao Mukong is occupied by the Qing army?"
"Take it one step at a time. In short, no matter what, we must find a way to stand out!"
Wang Wu’s answer was decisive.
After hearing this, Tian Wen hesitated for a moment, and then whispered: "Captain, I think there is no point even if we stand out. As you said last night, the Ming Dynasty has died. Grandma doesn't care for us and uncle doesn't love us." , what’s the point of holding on for a dead Ming Dynasty? People as powerful as King Li Jin and Guo Xingye have been defeated, how can we have the chance to revive the Ming Dynasty...
To be honest with the captain, if I can really stand out, I will not take this position. I want to return to my hometown to farm, and being a farmer for the rest of my life will be enough. But captain, don’t worry, no matter whether I can stand out or not, I, Tian Wen, will never betray you, and I will never become a dog to the Tatars! "
After expressing his feelings, Tian Wen felt much better.
He really lost confidence in fighting the Qing cause.
Seeing this subordinate who was older than him confiding his feelings, Wang Wu didn't say anything. He just patted the other man on the shoulder and said softly: "No matter what you think, live on first."
Tian Wen nodded, regained his composure, and went to reorganize the team with Zhao Jinzhong and others.
Whether he can return to his hometown to farm depends first on whether he can survive, and then whether he can rush out.
Looking at the other person's retreating figure, Wang Wu felt inexplicably sad, and then very heartbroken.
Tian Wen's words may be the common aspiration of all soldiers who are still persisting in resisting the Qing Dynasty at this time.
They despaired of the future because they could not see any chance of reviving the Ming Dynasty.
Yes, where is the opportunity?
Wang Wu let out a breath and slowly turned to the southwest.
His eyes focused little by little and then became extremely sharp.
Through the mountains and ridges, it seemed that he could see thousands of miles away!
Is there a chance for Mingshi to revive?
