From the retreat of the troops in Baoding City to this place for six to seven hundred miles, we fought and killed all the way, and ran for our lives in panic without stopping. In addition to physical exertion, there was also mental torture. As soon as we entered the city, our hearts were in our throats and dropped to the ground.
I couldn't hold it any longer, and I was paralyzed everywhere.
In addition, the losses were extremely heavy. There were only about 50,000 troops and a few coolie husbands left. Almost all of the troops and cannon fodder that had been sent down had been maimed, and even the foundation of the main force was damaged. This was the most painful thing for Li Zicheng.
Of course, it is easy to get rid of those burdens.
Another thing that caused him great pain was losing three out of ten of the looted baggage, which was a huge sum. Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing bit them all away. He was really itching with hatred, but there was nothing he could do.
Looking at the exhausted soldiers all over the city, Li Zicheng took a long breath and glanced sideways at Niu Jinxing next to him. The guy smiled reluctantly, with a hint of bitterness but also the joy of surviving the disaster.
Get rid of the pursuers, go to the sea, and slowly consolidate the imperial hegemony. Overall, this Eastern Expedition was very successful. Strategically, the momentum was so great that it even reached the capital. The momentum was unparalleled for a while.
After tossing the imperial court, they might not have the energy or ability to attack him within a year or two. It was considered that the purpose of the plan was achieved and the territory was consolidated.
As for the number of troops damaged, fortunately we collected a lot of cannon fodder along the way. During the Eastern Expedition, we sent more than 60,000 troops and now the number is around 50,000. Although it hurts, it is still within the acceptable range.
In addition, so much gold, silver, treasures and food and grass were stolen. It can be said that this is the biggest harvest.
"Rest for half a day and head west as fast as possible tomorrow morning. There will be no further troubles until we cross the Yellow River." Li Zicheng did not dare to be careless. He was talking to Niu Jinxing when he saw Li Guo coming hurriedly with a frown on his face: "Father, I came to report from the scouting horse that officers and soldiers were found on the north side of Shahe River.
There are thousands of them all as cavalry.”
Li Zicheng immediately frowned and looked at Niu Jinxing. Both of them had solemn expressions. The distance between Shahe and Yongnian was only a few dozen miles, but the officers and soldiers were so tight that they really wanted to chase them to the bank of the Yellow River.
However, he also had doubts in his mind. When Gao Jie intercepted Ren County and Liu Zeqing attacked from behind, he clearly felt that the officers and soldiers were not strong enough. The total number of participating in the battle was only about 30,000, which was far inferior to the rebel army. Where had the young eunuch's large force gone? If they had swarmed up at that time, he might not have been able to rush over.
, where did he go?
"Thousands of cavalry are only the vanguard of the officers and soldiers. There is still the main force behind, but we are not afraid of this vanguard. I understand that they dare not take the initiative to lift the tiger's beard. By the time the main force arrives, we will be gone, so there is no need to worry, Your Majesty." Niu Jinxing
He said calmly, Li Zicheng nodded slightly, there was no obstacle in front of him, and the wild dogs behind him were just barking to make him sick.
But Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing don't think so. No matter whether there is a roadblock in front of them or not, they will not just bark, they must take a few bites, and it will be worth real money!
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, and although Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing both disdain each other's character, they do share some similarities, such as killing Li Zicheng and stealing money.
Previously, the two of them intercepted and chased. After several fights, both of them were exhausted. The rebels broke through the pass. Gao Jie ordered his general Liu Cheng to lead thousands of cavalry to follow behind. After he and Liu Zeqing signed an agreement, they rested for a day and immediately headed south.
Urgent pursuit.
While Li Zicheng was resting in Yongnian City, he had already reached Nanhe County. The two were only separated by Shahe County, which was only a hundred miles apart. They could reach it by marching day and night.
"General Liu, in your opinion, will your family catch up or find a place to wait for the intruders?" Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing rode side by side, chatting and laughing.
Liu Zeqing chuckled: "Do you think he will sell us at a cheap price? Would you do it if it were you?"
Gao Jie shook his head and said frankly: "No."
Liu Zeqing laughed loudly: "Neither can I".
"Then where do you think he will be waiting?" Gao Jie asked again.
Liu Zeqing thought: "When the bandits crossed the Yellow River from Puban (today's Yongji) and then came east along the north bank of the Yellow River, they first occupied Huaiqing and Weihui... and then turned around and headed north. It would be natural for him to go back.
We are following the old road, and Huama Liu crosses the river in Kaifeng, to the west is Huaiqing Mansion, and to the north is Weihui Mansion... I guess he will be waiting at Weihui Mansion."
Gao Jie was stunned at first and was about to ask him why, but then he realized it and said: "It's me, I'll go to Wei Hui Mansion and wait."
Liu Zeqing laughed loudly: "That's not true. A camel is so skinny that it is bigger than a horse. It won't let anyone go."
"After Guangping Prefecture, go south to Zhangde Prefecture (Anyang), and then to the west is Weihui. Mr. Liu, we have to pay close attention, don't stare all the way and end up taking advantage of others." Gao Jie sneered, Liu Zeqing nodded slightly:
"Everyone can eat according to his ability."
Liu Liangzuo was full of ambition, Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing were sharpening their swords, and Li Zicheng was still conceited. How the four of them would arm-wrestle, it was hard to decide who would win, and it would only be decided when the Yellow River came.
But the other pair who were arm wrestling were doing the same thing almost at the same time. Chang Yu was drinking tea under the flower tree in the Yamen courtyard and basking in the sun, listening to Li Muchian bragging about his martial arts experience. There were many people outside the Qing army camp outside the city.
Ergon was grazing his horse, sometimes looking at the white clouds in the sky, and sometimes looking at the majestic capital of the Ming Dynasty in the distance.
If you break this city, you can gain thousands of miles of Ming Dynasty. Dorgon is an ambitious man. Every time he thinks about it, his blood boils and he can't control himself. When he really doesn't do anything, he is indifferent. Once he decides to do something, he plunges into it with all his strength.
And for.
Previously, I thought that besieging the city would be enough to humiliate the Ming court. However, after being angered by Chang Yu, he thought of breaking the city to vent his hatred. The more excited he became, the more he had the urge to not give up until the city was broken.
Hey, if we had entered the pass directly when we sent out troops a month ago, and had artillery and other baggage, we might have defeated the city in one fell swoop... What a shame, Shi was so obsessed with the dog eunuch that he was in such a mess now.
"Your Majesty, look at the city." One of his subordinates pointed to the wall of the Ming Dynasty capital: "The spies just reported that all the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty were on inspection." Dorgon raised his telescope and looked at it, and saw a dark group of people on the city.
On the west city wall, coming from the south, they saw that the soldiers were not ordinary soldiers, and their subordinates laughed and said that they were not the emperors of the Ming Dynasty.
Dorgon laughed loudly: "It's best, look, look, see more of our Qing cavalry, and surrender quickly if you are afraid, hahaha..."
"My lord, do you think the Ming Emperor will really surrender?" Someone under his command asked, and Dorgon rolled his eyes at him: "How can any emperor surrender so easily, unless the city is destroyed?" He then sneered: "Even if he doesn't surrender,
When I attack the city, it will be possible to negotiate peace."
"Your Majesty, please don't forget that there are tens of thousands of Ming troops dozens of miles away to the south. They may not take the opportunity to send troops when we attack the city." Someone said this, and Dorgon snorted: "I will never forget it, but
I'm afraid they don't have the guts. Tens of thousands of people are about to arrive, so don't you know what the point of being so hesitant is?"
Everyone, no matter how big or small, he naturally knows that the Qing army entered the pass several times. At first, some people dared to come and say hello. Later, they were all escorted from a distance to see them off. They did not dare to take a step forward and often hid hundreds of miles away.
Outside, even running in the opposite direction.
"Although that dog eunuch is full of tricks, he is surrounded by the king in the city. No matter how many changes he makes, he can't come up with any other tricks." Dorgon has already figured it out. If the Ming army has a little eunuch in charge, it can still make a splash.
, in his absence, the army would be exhausted and afraid of fighting. As the situation was like this, the little eunuch had no troops to use in the city, and the Ming army outside the city was leaderless and fearful and did not dare to come.
"I can't wait any longer." Dorgon looked up and laughed loudly. Chang Yu in the city couldn't help but sneeze and sprayed Li Muxian's face with tea. He stretched out his hand to touch his face: "Uh...factory director, what you just said
Where are you?"
"Speaking of you telling the fortune of a young girl, and she insists on giving her body to you, why are you going to a prostitute for free? Why do you say it so fresh and refined?" Chang Yu said with contempt: "It's useless to save this little money.
”.
Li Muxian waved his hand: "It's not about votes, it's about exchanges. My Taoism has a method of dual cultivation. Do you want the factory supervisor to learn it..."
"roll!"
An earthquake shook Dongchang Yamen, and Li Muxian fled in embarrassment. (To be continued)