At noon, the elite cavalry of Guo Yingxian, the general of Xuanfu, were blocked about five miles east of Changling Mountain.
Opposite them were less than a thousand Mongolian Zhenghuang Banner cavalry, but between the two armies, there was a trench that was more than one foot deep and two feet wide.
Looking at the wide trench about forty steps ahead, Guo Yingxian looked helpless. In order to ensure the marching speed this time, they not only traveled lightly but also did not even carry any auxiliary soldiers.
But now a wide trench lay across Songxing Avenue, blocking his way forward, but he was unable to fill it up and pass through. Guo Yingxian couldn't help but feel anxious.
Although Zhang Cheng asked him to move slowly and not to advance in a hurry, at this moment, Zhang Cheng's infantry camp and carriage camp were less than ten miles behind him, but he was blocked here, how could he not be in a hurry.
However, Guo Yingxian had nothing to do about it. Although there were only a thousand Mongolian knights on the opposite side, they were patrolling across the wide ditch. Once they came even slightly close, they would be shot back by their random arrows.
What's more, they were advancing lightly and lacked excavation equipment, so they were unable to dig and fill trenches.
"General, why don't we wait for the commander-in-chief." Mr. Qian Guo An reminded Guo Yingxian.
The veteran general Guo Yingxian was not in a hurry to answer. He rode his horse and inspected the wide trench before shouting an order: "The entire army should dismount and rest. No one is allowed to approach this trench within 60 steps without the general's order."
Seeing that all the generals under his command were following the orders and leading their cavalry to dismount and rest, he turned over and dismounted, and said to Guo An: "Guo An, you lead a team of elite cavalry and report the situation here to Commander Zhang as soon as possible."
After Guo An led his team to leave, Guo Yingxian carefully observed the trench in front of him and the Mongolian cavalry on the opposite side, muttering in his heart: "These damn Tatars are digging wherever they go!"
…………
The battle to attack Changling Mountain has reached this point. In fact, it doesn't matter whether we can win it or not.
Although Duduo was a little irritable, he was not a fool. Although the main force of the army stayed at the foot of Changling Mountain and attacked with all his strength, he did not forget the purpose of his visit.
He also focused on the overall situation and considered everything. While attacking Changling Mountain, he also dispatched groups of main forces to take action, such as attacking Xingshan Fort, cutting off the grain transportation channels of Ming Dynasty officials and troops, and reconnaissance cavalry. Go out everywhere and look for the places where the army stores food.
After all, the purpose of his trip was to attack Xingshan and Tashan, block the Ming army's food transport routes, and cut off the Songshan Ming army's connection with the rear!
The Qing army that went to attack Xingshan Fort was led by Xianghuangqi Gushan'e Zhenbaiyintu, who was defeated the day before. He led the elite knights with Xianghuangqi and was responsible for attacking Xingshan Fort.
The troops who went to various places to cut off grain routes and scout out important grain storage areas for the army were mainly soldiers and horses from Outer Mongolia and Eight Banners Mongolia.
At the same time, Manchuria's Yala Zhuzhangjing Tulun with a red flag, Baya Lazhangjing with a yellow flag, Gong Adai, Baiyintu's younger brother, and others also led a group of Tatar bandits to escort the remaining coated slaves and surrounding areas. The plundered Liao people went to dig trenches elsewhere.
According to the order of Emperor Huang Taiji of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing army had to dig trenches from the Nerv River to the edge of the sea to completely cut off the Songshan Ming army's communication with the rear.
Even Duduo did not dare to neglect this instruction. Although he was a little arrogant, he was still extremely afraid of the emperor and brother.
As for Changling Mountain, in Duduo's eyes, it is indeed a very important location, but it is not a must-have place. For him, Changling Mountain is the icing on the cake.
Now, the main reason why Duduo still storms Changling Mountain is that the other Ming armies are too cowardly. For example, Meng Dao, the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Associated Defense Forces, although he led more than 10,000 troops, he only stood in the Xingshan Fort and did not dare to Half a step out of the castle.
Even though the Qing army outside Xingshan Fort only had more than 2,000 cavalry, he only guarded the fort and refused to go out to fight in the field.
Even Meng Dao, who had a heavy army, was like this, let alone the other defenders. Only a few thousand Tatars went south, and they broke through the small forts outside Xingshan Fort, robbed a large amount of food and grass, and also robbed a large number of people. Civilian husband.
The Manchurian Zhenghong Banner of the Qing Dynasty, Gushan Fu Zhenshuo Tuo, has led the Zhenghong Banner Tatar army to attack the Daxing and Dongqing Forts and is besieging Wudaoling where Zuo Guangxian, the general soldier of the Chinese Association, is stationed.
It turned out that the Ming Army's forward right battalion staff general Qian Youlu, the meritorious general patrol general Dou Chenglie, and others were stationed in Daxing and Dongqing Forts. However, although they paid attention to the construction of defensive fortifications, they neglected to conduct reconnaissance sentries.
They didn't notice it until the Manchurian Yellow Banner Tatars approached the outside of the fort. However, all the routes out of the fort were controlled by the Tatars, and messages asking for help could no longer be sent out.
Qian Youlu and Dou Chenglie only held on for more than half a day, and Daxing and Dongqing Forts fell one after another!
Shuotuo burned Daxing Fort, leaving only a few hundred troops to garrison Dongqing Fort, thinking that the army would be a transit point, and he personally led the elite Zhenghongqi warriors straight to Wudaoling.
When Zuo Guangxian, the general soldier of the Chinese Association, first heard the rumbling of artillery at Daxing and Dongqing Forts, he sent several groups of sentries to investigate, but they were all intercepted and killed by the Tatars. Even the soldiers he sent to deliver the message to Xingshan Fort None of the sentry riders succeeded either.
Therefore, no one knows the news about Wudaoling and Daxing and Dongqing Forts. Even the news about the Zhenghong Banner Tatars going south is completely unknown to the Ming armies.
It was precisely for these reasons that Duduo had enough energy to attack Chen Zheng's Xuanfu army on Changling Mountain.
At this moment, he knew that thousands of cavalrymen who came to aid the Ming army would definitely not be able to get through the Songxing Avenue, which was blocked by trenches. This strengthened his determination to capture Changling Mountain.
As for his determination, Mongolia's Two Yellow Flags Gushan Ezhen Adai and the Dalai Lama had some other ideas. Their dark psychology caused trouble, and the warriors in their flags suffered heavy losses. The Manchus did not lose some soldiers and horses. They How can you be willing to do so?
There are also those Mongolian Zasaks from the outer vassals who are attacking with the army. Most of them have this kind of mentality. They even have the intention of instigating them. Their inner thoughts are the same as those of Adai and Tu Lai of the two yellow flags of Mongolia.
In fact, the battle of Changling Mountain has reached this point. Except for Duoduo, all the generals of the Qing army have also hesitated. On the contrary, Gushan Ezhen Ashan of Zhenghuang Banner in Manchuria is very determined.
There was not only competition among the princes within the Qing Dynasty, but also fierce competition among the Gushan Ezhen of the Eight Banners of Manchuria. It was because of this that the kings, Baylors, and generals of the Qing Dynasty could serve with sincerity. Thinking of establishing more military exploits so as to maintain one's position.
The same is true for Ah Shan. Although he is now the Gushan Ezhen of Zhenghuang Banner, there is still the risk of being replaced by others at any time!
At this time, he first saw Xianghuang Banner's Gushan forehead really bowing to Yintu and returning home, and then he saw that the defenders on Changling Mountain had significantly reduced their strength, and even voluntarily abandoned the ditch and low wall on the first line of defense.
This made him think that after two days of fierce fighting, the Ming army also suffered heavy casualties. After all, the Ming army guarding the mountain only had a few thousand people, unlike the tens of thousands of troops on his side.
How to afford it?
Moreover, the thousands of troops in the Ming Military Region must be exhausted after two days of fierce fighting. This is the best time to conquer this place in one fell swoop.
What's more, in today's battle, the white flags and the red flags are in a desperate posture. Not only the armored soldiers of the flags are arrayed at the foot of the mountain, but also the Bagala warriors of the two flags are ready to fight at any time.
Ashan thought that today seemed to be a good time to make some achievements, so he took the initiative to find Prince Duduo of Henan, rose up and asked for military service, and led a wave of warriors from the flag as a partial army to sneak up the valley to attack the main Ming army stronghold.
How could I have imagined that this time's greed for merit would cause him, a fierce general trusted by the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, to fall into Changling Mountain and leave his life here forever!
…………
How the small Changling Mountain could show such tenacity was completely beyond Duduo's expectation!
Since his departure from Baimiao Fort, every place where the Ming troops were stationed along the way he encountered was as if they were in ruins, and he was able to defeat them all without any effort.
But how many men and horses were lost on this small mountain?
Now, if Duduo gives up the attack on Changling Mountain, all his previous efforts will really be wasted. If this nail blocking the Songxing Avenue is not removed, it will be a waste.
So the army's plan to cut off the Ming army cannot be said to be completely complete. Instead of leaving a large group of fine cavalry to garrison here, it is better to completely pull out this nail.
What's more, if we give up the attack on Changling Mountain at this time, how can we be worthy of the Qing warriors who died here before?
Moreover, Prince Yu Duduo's prestige in the military will also be greatly reduced. This is the most intolerable thing for him.
What's more, the whistleblower report just now showed that Zhenghongqi's army was invincible along the way and achieved considerable results. Just now, they had successively captured Daxing and Dongqing Forts.
They looted all the useful materials in the second fort and were attacking Wudaoling with all their strength. Zuo Guang's Ming army stationed there had no power to fight back and had to rely on the mountain defense line to defend.
Zhenshuo Tuo, the commander of Zhenghong Banner Gushan'e, further stated in the letter that he would leave a few warriors to continue the attack on Wudaoling tomorrow, while he himself would personally lead the elite of the banner to attack Tashan Fort and search for the place where the Ming army's grain and grass were stored.
How can Duduo endure this?
And now he doesn't know that Zhenghuang Banner's true Ashan has died for his country on Changling Mountain!
Zuo Guangxian, the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Association, stayed at Wudaoling, and had no energy left to look elsewhere. Meng Dao, the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Association, huddled in Xingshan Fort, relying on the strong walls of Xingshan Fort and the numerous cannons on the city. , and only dare to stick to it.
At the beginning, Meng Dao deceived the Tatar thieves because they had few soldiers. He also organized his infantry and cavalry to form an array out of the city, hoping to defeat the Tartar thieves and boost the morale of the Ming Dynasty defenders in the city.
But as soon as they engaged in the battle, they were defeated by the army led by Baya Lajia Lazhang Jingaobai with the yellow flag. From then on, they did not dare to leave the city.
There is also Liu Zhaoji, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, who is stationed at Tashan Fort at this time, guarding the important grain and grass transshipment area in Bijiashan. He has the most responsibility and power, and his own troops and horses are not enough to use, and he has no spare power to help other places.
At present, as long as the Ming army stationed in Changling Mountain is conquered, there will be no strong bones between Xingta. Whether it is attacking the fortress, robbing the Ming army to store food, or blocking the Songshan Ming army's retreat, it will be easy. .
"Changling Mountain must be conquered!"
…………
The same is true for Ah Shan. Although he is now the Gushan Ezhen of Zhenghuang Banner, there is still the risk of being replaced by others at any time!
At this time, he first saw Xianghuang Banner's Gushan forehead really bowing to Yintu and returning home, and then he saw that the defenders on Changling Mountain had significantly reduced their strength, and even voluntarily abandoned the ditch and low wall on the first line of defense.
This made him think that after two days of fierce fighting, the Ming army also suffered heavy casualties. After all, the Ming army guarding the mountain only had a few thousand people, unlike the tens of thousands of troops on his side.
How to afford it?
Moreover, the thousands of troops in the Ming Military Region must be exhausted after two days of fierce fighting. This is the best time to conquer this place in one fell swoop.
What's more, in today's battle, the white flags and the red flags are in a desperate posture. Not only the armored soldiers of the flags are arrayed at the foot of the mountain, but also the Bagala warriors of the two flags are ready to fight at any time.
Ashan thought that today seemed to be a good time to make some achievements, so he took the initiative to find Prince Duduo of Henan, rose up and asked for military service, and led a wave of warriors from the flag as a partial army to sneak up the valley to attack the main Ming army stronghold.
How could I have imagined that this time's greed for merit would cause him, a fierce general trusted by the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, to fall into Changling Mountain and leave his life here forever!
…………
How the small Changling Mountain could show such tenacity was completely beyond Duduo's expectation!
Since his departure from Baimiao Fort, every place where the Ming troops were stationed along the way he encountered was as if they were in ruins, and he was able to defeat them all without any effort.
But how many men and horses were lost on this small mountain?
Now, if Duduo gives up the attack on Changling Mountain, all his previous efforts will really be wasted. If this nail blocking the Songxing Avenue is not removed, it will be a waste.
So the army's plan to cut off the Ming army cannot be said to be completely complete. Instead of leaving a large group of fine cavalry to garrison here, it is better to completely pull out this nail.
What's more, if we give up the attack on Changling Mountain at this time, how can we be worthy of the Qing warriors who died here before?
Moreover, Prince Yu Duduo's prestige in the military will be greatly reduced as a result. This is the most intolerable thing for him.
What's more, the whistleblower report just now showed that Zhenghongqi's army was invincible along the way and achieved considerable results. Just now, they had successively captured Daxing and Dongqing Forts.
They plundered all the useful materials in the second fort and were attacking Wudaoling with all their strength. Zuo Guang's Ming army stationed there had no power to fight back and had to rely on the mountain defense line to defend.
Zhenshuo Tuo, the commander of Zhenghong Banner Gushan'e, further stated in the letter that he would leave a few warriors to continue the attack on Wudaoling tomorrow, while he himself would personally lead the elite of the banner to attack Tashan Fort and search for the place where the Ming army's grain and grass were stored.
How can Duduo endure this?
And now he doesn't know that Zhenghuang Banner Gushan Ezhen Ashan has sacrificed his life for the country on Changling Mountain!
Zuo Guangxian, the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Association, was stationed at Wudaoling and had no energy left to look elsewhere. Meng Dao, the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Association, huddled in Xingshan Fort, relying on the strong walls of Xingshan Fort and the numerous cannons on the city. , and only dare to stick to it.
At the beginning, Meng Dao deceived the Tatar thieves because they had few soldiers. He also organized his infantry and cavalry to go out of the city to form an array, hoping to defeat the Tartar thieves and boost the morale of the Ming Dynasty defenders in the city.
But as soon as they engaged in the battle, they were defeated by the army led by Baya Lajia Lazhang Jingaobai with the yellow flag. From then on, they did not dare to leave the city.
There is also Liu Zhaoji, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, who is stationed at Tashan Fort at this time, guarding the important grain and grass transshipment area in Bijia Mountain. He has the most responsibility and power. His own troops and horses are not enough to use, and he has no spare power to help other places.
At present, as long as the Ming army stationed in Changling Mountain is conquered, there will be no strong bones between Xingta. Whether it is attacking the fortress, robbing the Ming army to store food, or blocking the Songshan Ming army's retreat, it will be easy. .
"Changling Mountain must be conquered!"
