Tongzhou has been an important town since ancient times. It was named because of the river. Since the opening of the Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty, Tongzhou has become an important transportation route between Beijing and the East. All countries worship, tributes are paid from all directions, merchants travel, and all land and water routes to Beijing must pass through here. Traffic on weekdays
The bumps of the wheels, the rustling of horses, and the canal's trumpet ringing in the sky create a scene of prosperity that no other county in Gyeonggi Province can compare with.
However, since the news of the Tatars' entry into the customs came half a month ago, Tongzhou has become desolate like other prefectures and counties. Most of the people have fled away after hearing the news. Both land and water docks have stopped working. The noisy and crowded docks in the past are now deserted.
A few miles southeast of Tongzhou City and close to the Grand Canal, there is a town called Zhangjiawan. This town is different from other villages and towns in that it is a small city. The walls and gates are actually the logistics transfer station for later generations. There is a village near the town that is particularly fateful.
It's called Huangmuchang Village.
Why is it famous? Because even Dorgon has heard of it.
On the bank of the Grand Canal, more than a dozen people were walking on the bank. Hundreds of warriors were standing around on horseback to alert them. Dorgon and a group of his generals were watching the rolling river water and pointing out the country.
"There is a saying in the Ming Dynasty that after the existing Huangmu Factory there is the city of Beijing. At that time, Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty harvested precious wood and stones from inland provinces and transported them to the wharf here through the canal. Over time, it became a village, which is the Huangmu Factory Village."
Ergon raised his finger and pointed at the smoke-filled village in the distance, with a sneer on his lips.
The generals under his command nodded with different expressions, and Azige said: "If you can't burn Emperor Ming's capital, it would be nice to burn his Imperial Wood Factory."
"This Huangmu Factory is not just here." Shang Kexi opened his mouth and said, Dorgon said, "Is there another place?"
Shang Ke nodded happily: "There is also a lumber factory two miles away from Guangqumen in the southeast of the capital. It was used to store and build the imperial city. It is also called Shenmuchang. However, a few days ago, we used all the wood to build siege equipment.
The rest was burned to the ground with a fire." He pointed at Huangmuchang Village and said, "It's like this."
All the generals laughed, and after walking more than ten steps along the river, Duduo asked, "Brother Fourteen, now that Tongzhou has been defeated, where should we go now? Should we send our troops eastward or southward?"
Dorgon raised his eyebrows: "The richest man in the capital cannot go beyond Tongzhou, but it is far less than what we need. It is imperative to go east and south. However, the attack on the city the day before yesterday was unfavorable and the morale of the army was frustrated. We can count in Panhengzhou in Tongzhou
On the day, we will plunder and let the soldiers enjoy themselves before leaving. I understand that the Ming army will not dare to disturb us."
He said, looking back at the generals: "As for whether to go eastward or southward, do you have any suggestions?"
The generals expressed their opinions one after another, but in fact, they said that they should go south, and the east side is barren, and the geographical location is the Jizhen and Shanhaiguan defense lines of the Ming army in the north. It is adjacent to the sea in the east and can easily be outflanked and attacked, so why not go south to Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong and other fertile areas?
Meat area, and familiar roads.
Dorgon put his palms in his hands and laughed: "You gentlemen agree with me." Then he ordered his troops to rest in Tongzhou City for two days, then plundered the surrounding fifty miles, and then sent his troops south the next day.
Several horses were galloping in the distance. Dorgon looked up and said, "I hope this is good news."
Tan Ma approached: "Report to the prince, the Ming army sent tens of thousands of troops to march eastward..."
Well, Dorgon was startled, and everyone looked shocked. Obviously, this news was too unexpected.
The Ming army sent tens of thousands of troops to follow them. What did they want to do?
Are they going to fight the Qing army in the field? Who gave them the courage and confidence! Dorgon laughed so hard that tears almost came out of his eyes. This was just sent to relieve his own anger. This was really good news.
You must know that the day before yesterday, he failed to attack the city and suffered heavy losses. He has always been angry in his heart. Last night, he led his troops to approach Tongzhou City and easily broke through the city. He originally wanted to massacre the city to vent his hatred, but in the end reason defeated his anger. Many people in Tongzhou City had already heard the news and fled.
, there are only a few people left, and the people he captured earlier were almost destroyed by artillery fire when they attacked the capital. If they were to kill them all, there might not even be people pushing carts and doing coolies.
There was nowhere to vent his anger, and acne easily broke out. Dorgon could only burn some villages outside the city to vent his hatred. However, he could only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. He still suppressed a fire in his heart. When he heard that the Ming army was coming, he really wanted to cry with joy.
General Geng Zhongming stroked his beard and said: "Your Majesty, this matter should be handled with caution. The Ming army has always cherished their lives. Not to mention that in previous years, we heard that our heroes had fled hundreds of thousands of miles. Even in the past few months, when the Ming army had a slight upper hand,
He doesn't dare to fight so easily with us in the field. A few days ago, we surrounded the city and he only made a few sneak attacks, but he didn't have the guts to take a risk and fight in formation. Now, as soon as we left, he came after us. I'm afraid there is a trick in it!"
Most of the generals nodded. Dorgon frowned and looked at Duduo: "What do you think, Old Fifteen?"
"Whatever you are looking at, just do it!" Before Duduo could say anything, Azig next to him roared: "There are so many plains all around the capital, even if you think about it, you can't make a stumbling block, even if you have a clear sword and a clear gun
Even if there are ten cavalrymen of the Qing Dynasty, they won't be afraid of him. There is no need to be cautious. Just go up and do it. If you are afraid, Fourteenth, I will lead ten thousand troops to do it for him!"
Although Azig was rude and brainless, his words were not crude. Dorgon and others thought again. It was indeed as he said. The cavalry under his command could maximize their advantages and defeat the Ming army.
It's no different than mowing the grass.
But... the Ming army naturally knew this truth, so why did they come to die?
Unless there was fraud, what kind of fraud could he have? Dorgon and the others couldn't figure it out even after racking their brains.
Then there is only one possibility.
If it weren't for the fact that the Ming Emperor had a fever and felt that it would be detrimental to the country's prestige to allow the Qing army to rob the house so brazenly, he ordered troops to be killed. As in previous years, these generals who led the troops showed off and ran away to cool off after leading the troops out of the city.
Or there are courtiers and clowns who are trying to please the public by shouting about being loyal to the country or marching on behalf of the emperor, recommending themselves to lead troops to kill the enemy, and then run away after being beaten, and go back to say how awesome they are, how they kill the enemy without caring about their own lives, but are ultimately outnumbered...
It’s just to gain fame, but in reality it’s just like the hype of Internet celebrities in later generations.
The Ming Dynasty has never lacked these clowns, so all kinds of weird things are not surprising, so that Dorgon and others can't find the reason for the Ming army to pursue them and can only think of this, which is the only reasonable explanation.
After all, both sides were well aware of the disparity in cavalry strength between the Ming and Qing dynasties. If they had the geographical advantage to do some dirty tricks, Dorgon still had some scruples. He could see the Pingchuan for more than ten miles at a glance. What tricks could you pull off?
If you fight with me in the field, there will only be one end, and it will be tragic!
In this case, there is nothing to be afraid of, as Azig said, just do it.
Dorgon, you decide that no matter what the purpose of this Ming army is, he will fight a bloody battle. Even if these Ming troops really go out of the city to show off to Emperor Ming, since you don’t lose a piece of meat after leaving the city, don’t think it will be so easy.
When we go back, it is best if the Ming army takes the initiative to bring it to his mouth. If he goes far away, he will take the initiative to pursue it and keep chasing and slashing.
After some discussion, Dorgon ordered preparations for war, and all the generals enthusiastically requested a fight. Among them, the two brothers Azig and Duduo were the most eager to fight. Because they were the most angry, one of them capsized in the sewer of Tangtong, and the other was killed due to heavy rain and wind.
Huang Degong's fight was evenly matched, and the hatred in his heart was overwhelming. At this time, he naturally wanted to lead his troops in a fierce battle, and only then would he be happy to kill the Ming army and abandon their armor.
Dorgon no longer hesitated, and ordered Duduo and Azig to lead the troops to fight in Wanwu. They sharpened their knives on the banks of the Wenyu River a few miles northwest of Tongzhou and waited for the cattle and sheep to arrive. (To be continued)