The group of people leaving Jining was none other than Li Dingguo.
After spying on the lax defense of Jining City, he and Gao Yigong stormed in and captured the important city almost instantly.
“I made a lot of money this time!”
Gao Yigong rode his horse and laughed: "Not only did we replenish the horses we lacked, but we also captured a large amount of gold and silver. Brothers, this trip was not in vain."
Li Dingguo looked back and saw that almost everyone was leading one or two donkeys or mules, carrying large amounts of gold, silver, and food rations.
The cavalry were in high spirits, with faces full of joy.
Isn't it just for this moment, traveling hundreds of miles from Huai'an to Shandong?
"Where shall we go next?"
"Wu Sangui was stabbed in the waist by us. I'm afraid he'll get angry from shame, so we have to go further away."
Li Dingguo showed a smile.
"It's safer to go to Caozhou? Yuyuan Army's place."
Gao Yigong asked tentatively.
"That's a place of death, you can't go there."
Li Dingguo raised his head and said: "There are river beaches everywhere, which is not a place for our cavalry."
After saying that, he raised his head and looked east, showing a smile:
“If there is anything in Shandong that can rival the canal, it would be Qufu Kongfu.”
"Fucking good!"
Gao Yigong shouted: "We hijacked Yan Shenggong, which is a great achievement!"
"Mr. Yan Sheng?" Li Dingguo smiled slightly: "I want to achieve military exploits——"
Immediately, he raised his whip and quickened his pace.
Following closely behind were Wu Sangui's cavalry.
In the military reports sent to Jinan and Beijing, it was reported that a group of more than 10,000 Ming cavalry raided Jining and disrupted the entire Shandong Province.
…
In Yangzhou City, with the arrival of the entire Luan Jia, it became increasingly prosperous, and the massacre more than a year ago seemed to have been forgotten.
However, the nearly 60,000 Beijing troops surrounded the city densely to ensure the emperor's safety.
"In Yangzhou City, it is really prosperous, much better than Xuzhou."
Li Chengdong and Qin Dapeng walked side by side.
Along the way, there were many ordinary people in the streets, crowded vendors, shouting and shouting, and the atmosphere was full of fireworks.
"It's just as good as Nanjing!" Qin Dapeng said in a loud voice, looking around with a hint of worry in his heart.
Ever since they betrayed Gao Jie and returned to duty, these senior generals were sent to Nanjing.
Including him and Li Chengdong, seven people were granted the title of baronet, and were given the title of senior general, mansion, servants, gold, silver, and jewelry. Not only did they have everything they wanted, but they were definitely not lacking. It was extremely glorious.
But no one can guess the emperor's thoughts.
Among the seven, Cao Hu, Shen Bao, Li Maozhen, Li Benzhen, and Li Yuanyin went to the north to fight against the slaves one after another, or went to the Beijing camp to lead troops.
However, he and Li Chengdong seemed to have been forgotten. They got the title of Kongjue and accompanied Luan Jia to Yangzhou. They were without soldiers and power, and they were extremely uncomfortable.
"This is different from Nanjing!"
Li Chengdong showed a smile and whispered to Qin Dapeng: "The opportunity for you and me is in Yangzhou City."
"The danger of Nanjing lies in the Yangtze River, but Yangzhou is on the verge of landing!"
"But I think it would be difficult for the Manchus to come to Yangzhou."
Qin Dapeng shook his head and muttered: "We have been fighting for almost two months before we arrived in Huai'an. It's not like you haven't looked along the canal. There are bastions everywhere. I guess the fighting will take until the spring of next year."
"Once the spring rain falls and the ground becomes muddy, the red artillery will be ineffective and the cavalry will be useless!"
Gu Yun
"Nothing is absolute!"
Li Chengdong's eyes were deep: "If we are useless, how can we be sent to Yangzhou in the workplace?"
"What you said makes some sense."
Qin Dapeng said carelessly: "This is the best."
With that said, the two of them started to continue shopping. The two of them, who were not short of money, returned home happily.
"Is Huai'an so difficult to defeat?"
In the former enemy marshal's mansion, the ministers were sitting and discussing military affairs, while at the sand table, Feng Xianzong frowned and stared at Huai'an Mansion in Shanyang City seriously.
After the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, the three counties of Huai'an, Huaiyin and Xincheng were merged into Shanyang, so Shanyang County cannot be regarded as one county.
It is bordered by the Huaihe River to the north, Gaojiayan to the west, across Sheyang Lake to the southeast, and to Maluo, Miaowan Town and Yangzhaizi in the northeast. It can be said to be a dangerous place.
However, seven days have passed since the Qing Dynasty attacked the city, and Shanyang County is still stable. Although it is in danger, it can always avert danger.
After serving as deputy chief of the General Staff Department for two years, Feng Xianzong was quite sensitive to war.
"Shanyang County is dangerous, and after several months of repairs, it will be difficult for the Manchus to conquer it."
At this time, the real Secretary of the Ministry of War, Lu Daqi, came over, looked at the young man who was lost in thought, and couldn't help but say:
"The Manchus must not have wanted to die in vain again."
"Lv Gong!"
Feng Xianzong bowed his hands respectfully, then smiled and said: "This is certainly reasonable."
"But -" there was a trace of doubt on his face: "The daily cost of the Qing Dynasty's 100,000 soldiers and horses is immeasurable. It is surprising that all the energy is spent on Huai'an."
"yes!"
At this time, Zhao Shu, the chief minister of the cabinet, came over. He was a staff member of Sun Chuanting and had some experience in military affairs:
"Whether we divide our troops and go to Hefei, or we go south at all costs, it is better than staying in Huai'an."
"The Manchus must have a conspiracy!"
Several people nodded and reached a consensus.
On the other side, the emperor was also analyzing the Manchu Qing's next path.
The most important role of the former Enemy Marshal's Mansion was to coordinate the imperial court's material supply to the army and handle military reports and military affairs in a timely manner.
But he is not good at analyzing war situations.
Therefore, the young staff officers in the General Staff Department began to reason one by one and had various ideas. The emperor asked them to file them and then analyze them slowly.
Finally, the staff came to three analytical conclusions:
The first possibility: The Qing Dynasty was short of supplies, such as gunpowder, grain and grass, etc., which were not supplied in time.
The basis of the reasoning is that the news from Jinyiwei incited the rebels to come one after another, and Li Dingguo and other cavalry also headed north.
The second type: the Manchu Qing carried out a feint attack, or deliberately slowed down to cover another operation.
There are two consequences. Either go to Fengyang Mansion, plunder the people, and occupy all the Huaibei area.
Or, he was preparing to take a detour to attack Yangzhou and capture the thief first before capturing the king.
The third type: There were conflicts within the Manchu Qing Dynasty, so that Jierhalang deliberately hesitated to move forward.
"These three types, the first and the second, are very likely."
Zhu Yixi commented: "Shandong has insufficient people and many rebels causing trouble, so it is very likely that there will be insufficient food and grass."
"As for the sneak attack on Yangzhou——"
The emperor fell into thinking: "Do you have any guesses? How will they advance?"
"Your Majesty, there are only three routes for Jiannu to go to Yangzhou. The simplest is along the canal, but without beacon fire along the way, it must be impossible."
"The second is to go from both sides of the canal, especially to the east of the canal, where there are few lakes, which is most suitable for cavalry."
"The third is to take a sea ship and land near Yangzhou Prefecture."