The grassland is vast and sparsely populated. It is very easy for a few hundred people to hide their whereabouts on the grassland, but it is almost impossible for an army of tens of thousands to impress their whereabouts.
If tens of thousands of troops want to march smoothly on the grassland, there must be accurate water sources along the way, and ordinary small rivers are not enough to meet the consumption of tens of thousands of troops and mules and horses.
Basically, wherever there are water sources, there are gathering points of Mongolian tribes or herdsmen.
Moreover, the feces left behind after the army marches will also become a reason for the army's whereabouts to be exposed.
In fact, after the Qing army entered the grassland, they had no intention of concealing their march, because Huang Taiji himself knew that the news would definitely spread, so his goal all along was to compete with the Tiger Flag to see who could move faster.
"Where has the army arrived?" Huang Taiji asked, looking at the map in front of him.
Maps are the most basic tool for combat. To become a good general, map recognition is an indispensable skill. Even if some of his Eight Banners generals are illiterate, he also requires the ability to identify maps.
Ao Bai bowed and said, "I think the army should be in the area around the Hanhetao."
"Slow down." Huang Taiji whispered two words.
Hearing this, Obei said: "It won't be too late for our army to arrive at the Han Loop. It is an army of tens of thousands. Maybe Mongolians will join in on the way, which will slow down the march."
If they can gain benefits in the war, many small Mongolian tribes and herdsmen are willing to join and follow the army to plunder everywhere.
The Mongols who joined halfway prepared their own horses and weapons, and often even prepared their own food.
Of course, this sudden addition of Mongolian soldiers and horses can only fight a smooth battle.
"You don't know Jierhalang. He knows the key to victory in this battle, so he will not waste time on the road and rush to Qingcheng in the shortest time." Huang Taiji said.
In this battle, the target he set for the Qing army was Qingcheng.
He knew the richness of Qingcheng clearly when the Qing Dynasty was still the Jin Dynasty. As long as he could grab it from Qingcheng once, he believed that the harvest would be greater than the last time he entered the territory of the Ming Dynasty.
"This slave is short-sighted. I think Prince Zheng must have arrived at Qingcheng earlier as his master said." Obai agreed.
At this time, Ao Bai was not as powerful as when Kang Mazi ascended the throne. Even the emperor did not pay much attention to him. At this time, he was just a junior in the Qing Dynasty. Because his ancestor was a powerful minister of gold, he could be by Huang Taiji's side. Be a bodyguard.
Huang Taiji glanced at Obai and said, "You have been with me for many years. In two years, I will let you go out to lead the army and gain more face for the Guarjia family."
"This slave thanks my master for the grace of Guarjia." Obai bowed his head and knelt on the ground.
Huang Taiji walked back to his seat and said: "I will go to Gaizhou Guards for me and bring a message to Prince Li. Tell him that Dajin is the Dajin of the Manchu people, and the Qing Dynasty is also the Qing Dynasty of the Manchu people. , I don’t want to see there are other Han troops besides the Eight Banners in Gaizhou Guard.”
"Master, please don't worry, I will definitely bring you the message personally." Oboi promised.
Huang Taiji nodded, and then said: "After you finish speaking, don't come back yet. Stay in Gaizhou Guard and watch Prince Li recover all the Han troops from Guan Ning's army before coming back."
"Hey." Oboi responded.
Zu Dashou took more than half of the elite troops of Guan Ning Army to the grassland with Jierhalang. The elite troops of Guan Ning Army who stayed in Gaizhou Guard were less than 2,000, and most of them were ordinary Liaodong soldiers and horses.
Now taking advantage of Zu Dashou's absence, Huang Taiji is ready to completely control the remaining Guan Ning army and weaken Zu Dashou's strength in the Qing Dynasty.
On the grassland, the Qing army marched in a hurry every day, and the soldiers below were miserable. Fortunately, after the Qing army set off, they brought a lot of cattle and sheep from Horqin and other tribes as food and grass, and coupled with the harsh punishment of the Qing Dynasty, it was only then that There was no trouble in the army.
"Your Majesty, Uncle Ning Yuan is outside asking for an audience."
On this day, after the army set up camp at night, Zu Dashou came to Jierhalang's tent.
"Uncle Ning Yuan, please come in!" Jierhalang said to his subordinates who came in to report.
Although Zu Dashou's title in the Qing Dynasty was not high, he attached great importance to Zu Dashou, Uncle Ning Yuan.
The troops of Commander Zu Dashou accounted for half of the Qing army he led, and the other party was someone who had the strength to compete with him directly.
Soon, Zu Dashou was brought in.
"I will see you at the end of your visit, Your Majesty." As soon as Zu Dashou entered the tent, he bowed and saluted Jierharang.
Jierhalang looked at Zu Dashou, who was standing in front of him with his back straight, and suddenly said with a smile: "Come here, sit down for Uncle Ning Yuan."
Bajala's bodyguard on the side brought a stool.
"I would like to thank you, Prince." Zu Dashou lifted his hem and sat upright on the stool brought for him.
Jierhalang said with a smile: "Uncle Ning Yuan hasn't eaten yet, so he just happened to stay and eat some with Xiao Wang."
"Your Majesty invites me, I will not dare not to obey." Zu Dashou agreed unceremoniously.
It's just staying in the coach's tent to eat something, which is nothing to him.
In the Qing Dynasty, even though he was just Uncle Ning Yuan, even Huang Taiji, the Chongde Emperor, had to be polite when talking to him, and his confidence was the tens of thousands of Guan Ning troops in his hands.
Jilharang said a few words to the guards on the side.
After the acting guard left the tent, he looked at Zu Dashou and asked, "Have the troops and horses under Uncle Ning Yuan been arranged? Are the grain and grass enough? If not, I will have some sent to you."
The nominal commander-in-chief of the Guanning Army in the Qing Army was Jierhalang, but in fact it was Zu Dashou who had the final say, and no one else could get involved.
Therefore, Jierhalang did not know much about the situation of Guan Ningjun.
"Everything else is fine. It's just that during these days of rapid marching every day, the people below can't bear it. My lord, do you think we should rest for a day or two before rushing on?" Zu Dashou said.
Jierhalang frowned when he heard this, and said: "I also know that the army is having a hard time these days, but I still hope that Uncle Ning Yuan can talk to his people and let them persist. As long as we get near Qingcheng, it will be fine."
"The general has also advised the generals below, and these generals have tried to find ways to make their people persist, but the people below are suffering from such a hasty march. The general is worried that if we march with such force, the people below will cause trouble." Zu Dashou stared at Jierhalang's face.
Jirharang tapped the back of his other hand a few times with his index finger and said: "It's not just the Han army who marched in such a hurry, the Eight Banners soldiers, the Han Eight Banners and the Mongols also marched in such a hurry. I think As long as Uncle Ning Yuan guides him well, it is understandable that he wants to come to the Han army."
(End of chapter)
