Niu Jinxing's strategy is indeed quite clever. But Li Laiheng also heard the meaning behind his words. To implement this tactic, some troops must be left in Luoyang to lure the enemy. There is no doubt that these were left to lure the enemy.
Everyone will be in bad luck.
Li Shuangxi hadn't heard the meaning of Niu Jinxing's words yet, so he asked blankly: "Weng Qi, Shao Shichang is just a yamen clerk, and those surrendered troops may not be reliable. I don't think it's appropriate to let him stay in Luoyang!"
In fact, Niu Jinxing chose Shao Shichang, the clerk recruited by Li Shuangxi, to stay in Luoyang, which was a helpless choice. Niu Jinxing had just defected to the camp not long ago. If he wanted to let an old brother from northern Shaanxi who was directly related to Li Zicheng do such a decoy task that was bound to perish, he would
You have to weigh it carefully.
Niu Jinxing prevaricated Li Shuangxi: "There is no need to worry about this. As soon as Li Xianfeng and Chen Yongfu received the news that the main force of the camp was attacking Kaifeng, they would definitely return reinforcements at night. As long as Luoyang City can hold on for a day or two, there is no need to worry. The officers and soldiers will be cut off.
I won’t leave Kaifeng alone and stay under Luoyang City.”
Li Shuangxi nodded, but he still hesitated in his heart. No matter how upright and unscrupulous he was, he had experienced so many wars and his mind was not bad. If he thought about it carefully, he felt that there were many flaws in Niu Jinxing's words.
Luoyang left no elite soldiers or generals, only an abandoned son like Shao Shichang. There were also many Ming Dynasty civil and military officials, local officials, and local tyrants in the city. How could he defend Luoyang?
After Li Zicheng conquered Luoyang, he did not kill any of the current civil and military officials in Luoyang unless they continued to lead the people to resist. This approach was certainly beneficial to the next step in conquering cities, and it also countered to a certain extent the propaganda promoted by the imperial court and literati.
Breaking into the camp is considered a "murderous devil" by public opinion. But it will undoubtedly cause great worries for the defense of Luoyang.
This is obviously to sacrifice Shao Shichang.
Although Luoyang has thick walls and towering archery towers, it cannot be defended without sufficient troops.
In addition to Li Shuangxi, everyone like Tian Jianxiu, Li Guo, Liu Fangliang and Li Laiheng all knew that to defend Luoyang, at least five to six thousand backbone soldiers must be left behind, and this is definitely beyond the limit of the ability to break into the camp.
.
Luoyang or Kaifeng, you can only choose one.
There was no emotion on Li Zicheng's face. In fact, when Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance mentioned this, most people could already feel that they and Li Zicheng must have discussed this plan long ago.
In other words, the decision to let Shao Shichang stay in Luoyang was already decided.
Li Laiheng couldn't help but narrowed his eyes and looked at Niu Jinxing. He knew Li Zicheng well. Without Niu Jinxing's advice, Li Zicheng would never have been able to adopt this strategy with a strong "deceit" color to lure Luoyang and the soldiers and horses left behind.
As a bait, to cope with the main attack on the camp, Kaifeng.
Li Zicheng was a simple and sincere person, always open and honest. Under the influence of Niu Jinxing, he gradually learned and adopted this "deception" method. Is it really a benefit?
Li Laiheng thought for a while, finally made up his mind, and retorted softly: "I think Qi Weng's strategy hits the key points of Henan's overall situation, but the arrangement for Luoyang's stay is too hasty and not very good."
He opposed the strategy decided by Li Zicheng and Niu Jinxing. First, sacrificing Shao Shichang and other newly surrendered people would be harmful to Chuangying's long-term reputation.
Of course, the most important thing is the second one.
Because after a discussion between Li Laiheng and Fang Yiren, he actually leaned towards Fang Yiren's strategy of occupying the Three Chus. To occupy the Three Chus, it was necessary to control the Wan and Luo roads leading from Henan to Huguang.
In Li Laiheng's view, even if Luoyang is to be abandoned, we should first try to evacuate and transfer Luoyang's grain, savings, and population, so as to lay a solid foundation for the next step of exploring the Nanyang Basin and developing the Chu region in the future.
Secondly, if Chuangying sticks to Luoyang for a certain period, it can also show its attitude to the people of Henan. Chuangying will never give up the captured city easily, which enhances people's confidence in joining Chunying and prevents the people from thinking that Chuangying gives up the city easily.
, so that the people who defected to the camps had to leave their homes to avoid revenge from the government and soldiers.
The key point is that after the discussion between Li Laiheng and Fang Yiren, they have gradually determined their strategy of "opening up a new world" in Chu and creating a new situation on their own. Therefore, Li Laiheng felt it was necessary to use the main force of the camp to abandon the defense.
Luoyang has the opportunity to make the first step preparation for his strategy of occupying the three Chu states.
In addition, Li Laiheng had formed a very comprehensive plan on how to defend Luoyang, how to resist the army, and how to evacuate supplies and make profits from the defense of Luoyang.
What's more, Li Laiheng is also familiar with history and knows that it is difficult to succeed in a desperate attack on Kaifeng like Camping Camp. Once defeated in Kaifeng, Luoyang has given up and has no retreat. Even if it returns to Xiong'er Mountain and Funiu Mountain, the local food production will not be able to support it.
The large army that breaks into the camp will inevitably reduce the number of troops and reduce its strength.
Therefore, Li Laiheng believed that if he tried to hold on to Luoyang for a period of time, he could at least buy more time for the transfer of supplies from Luoyang. Afterwards, if the main force in the camp failed to attack Kaifeng and retreated into the mountains, he could rely on these supplies to survive for a period of time.
There will be no immediate food shortage.
Therefore, Li Laiheng simply refuted Niu Jinxing's strategy and said to Li Zicheng and the generals: "Once the attack on Kaifeng fails and Luoyang fails to defend, I am afraid that I will be unable to retreat and there will be a danger of the overall collapse."
He raised his hands and asked Li Zicheng: "Marshal, I think Luoyang must not give in. Even if it gives in, Shao Shichang should not be allowed to stay, but elite soldiers should be left to defend."
Before Li Zicheng could speak, Niu Jinxing frowned and persuaded: "Little general, I understand what you mean... But the main force of breaking into the camp to attack Kaifeng may not be sure of complete victory. How can we divide our troops again to stay in Luoyang? 2.
If you take both, you will have neither. You still need to have the courage of a strong man to cut off his wrists and gather troops in one place to open up the situation."
"Ha." Li Laiheng smiled slightly and said again, "It doesn't matter. Marshal, the situation is exactly as Qi Weng said. If you take both, you will lose both. So I also agree that Tai Tai should not be left in Luoyang.
In my opinion, with strong military strength, we only need to leave a small tiger team, which is enough to defend Luoyang for a long time. On the one hand, it can better contain Li Xianfeng and Chen Yongfu, and on the other hand, it can also buy more time to grab the enemy.
Transport materials and people to Luoyang."
Niu Jinxing still had objections, but Li Zicheng waved his hand and asked him to sit down. Li Zicheng looked at Li Laiheng with deep meaning and said: "Laiheng, the Little Tiger Team now has as many as 2,000 capable soldiers. Even if only one of them is divided into
If these two thousand people stay in Luoyang, it may also lead to the failure of the plan to attack Kaifeng."
Li Laiheng continued to talk eloquently: "The marshal is right, and I understand the meaning. So what I mean is that Gao Yigong and other teams were sent to follow the main force to attack Kaifeng, leaving only nearly a thousand tiger cubs in Luoyang.
Just use the troops and horses of the team to defend."
Li Zicheng raised his eyebrows, his expression finally changed, and he had a few thoughts, and said: "A thousand? A thousand soldiers and horses, how can we defend Luoyang City when there are strong enemies outside and hidden worries inside? Once it fails, not only will one
Thousands of soldiers and horses will wipe out the whole army, Laiheng, you will also be in danger of falling into the hands of the official army!"
After Li Laiheng looked around, he replied with great confidence: "Marshal, don't worry, I can issue a military order. I will not let these thousand soldiers and horses be destroyed. I will defend Luoyang for at least a period of time and coordinate the army's strategy!"