"Can your Highness do good politics if you are with such an insect-like person?"
When Li Laiheng thought that even Gu Pass might have been lost, he became even more disgusted with Tian Jianxiu's actions. After the other generals left the commander's residence, he and Fang Yiren privately discussed the bottom line for the next step in retreating south.
.
"People like Tian Jianxiu...and Niu Jinxing, don't worry about making trouble now, be careful about making lists in the future."
Li Laiheng vented to himself, while Fang Yiren frowned and said: "The problem now is whether Gu Pass has been lost. If Gu Pass has been lost, it will be difficult for us to hold even the front line of the Hutuo River. We still stay north of the Hutuo River.
If we do, we may be isolated at any time and become a lone army surrounded on three sides by the Ming and Qing allied forces."
"The front line of the Hutuo River must be defended...at least the south flow of the Hutuo River must be defended."
Li Laiheng stood up and opened the window of the Flower Hall of the Commander's Mansion, and a cool spring breeze blew into the house. The temperature was gradually rising, and the chill was much lower than in the past few days. It is estimated that in a few days, the river will gradually thaw, and Chuang
There is still considerable hope for the army to defend along the river.
"Let Ma Bao immediately lead troops to seize several counties in the southern part of Hejian Prefecture. Before, I hurriedly led the troops from Dezhou to Baoding and did not leave any troops to seize the land of Hejian Prefecture on the way. This was my fault, so now we are asking our
There is such a big gap in the defense line!"
When the temperature rises and the river thaws, the invaders can hold the front line of the Hutuo River. However, after the Hutuo River flows eastward into Hejian Prefecture, important places on both sides of the river such as Xian County, Jiaohe, Nanpi and other counties have not been invaded yet.
military occupation.
Although the Ming army did not have the power to control several prefectures and counties south of Hejian City, the local areas were completely in a vacuum of military power, and most of them were managed by a small number of local officials and gentry themselves.
However, according to Gu Junen's estimation, Bo Hetuo, the auxiliary official who led the Qing army's southward roundabout troops, escaped from Boye City with a remnant of the Qing army, and did not go directly north to escape back to the capital via Baiyangdian. Instead, he fled with swords.
The slanted front entered the vacuum of Hejianfu area to the east. Based on this inference, several important places in Xianxian County, Jiaohe, and Nanpi were probably now under the control of the Qing army.
"If Hao's direct inference is correct, the Qing army may indeed have occupied the key areas of Hejian Prefecture. However, the remaining Qing army is not strong enough and may not dare to spread its forces to control various states and counties."
Fang Yiren also looked solemn. After the situation in Shanxi deteriorated, the Hebei Army was strategically in a protruding position surrounded by three sides, which was indeed very dangerous. However, Fang Yiren was relatively optimistic about the situation in Hejian Mansion. He continued to analyze
explain:
"The Qing army was defeated. Even if it was gathered several times, it was impossible for the number to exceed 3,000. Even if the enemy was bolder and dared to divide their troops to occupy various states and counties, with such a force, they could only control Hejian Fucheng, Tianjin, and a few places in Cangzhou.
Palace Master, as long as Ma Bao deploys his troops quickly, he will definitely be able to control the counties of Hejian Prefecture south of the Hutuo River before the enemy moves south."
"hope so!"
Fang Yiren then sighed and said: "Song and Liao have been fighting fiercely in Hebei for many years, and most of the troops of the Song Dynasty have been concentrated in Zhen and Dingzhou. Now Datong and the capital are both in the hands of the coalition forces. The capital is Youzhou in Song Dynasty, and Datong is Yunzhou in Song Dynasty. Youzhou
The clouds are there but not mine, and Baigou cannot be relied upon. How long can Hutuo hold on? Between Zhen and Ding, the people of the Song Dynasty were digging rivers and ponds, building paddy fields to trip up the enemy, and building fortresses to block the enemy.
These advantages are something we don’t have.”
Li Laiheng knew that Fang Yiren's words were quite superficial. If he compared the situation in the Northern Song Dynasty, he could also say that the wealth of the capital today was far higher than that of Youzhou in the Song Dynasty. And it was true that the city between the two states was
, most of them were breached by the Qing army when they entered the pass several times before, and the city defenses were in dilapidated condition. Although a lot of repairs were made after the invasion army occupied them, they are certainly not comparable to the fortresses that were strictly defended by the Song people.
The strength of the Ming and Qing coalition forces was at least no less than that of the Khitan. However, the strength of the Chuang army was certainly no match for the Song army, which controlled two-thirds of the world.
"No matter what the situation is, when the main force of the Chuang Army returns from Shaanxi, the situation will definitely change. Leshan, don't worry too much. Our task now is to guard the front line of the Hutuo River first... and wait for Ma Bao to seize the opportunity of Hejian Mansion.
After the three counties of Xian, Jiaohe and Nanpi, we can form a new complete line of defense from Guguan to Zhending, and then eastward along the Hutuo River to Jinzhou, Shenzhou, Wuqiang, Xianxian and Nanpi.
"
Fang Yiren smiled bitterly and said: "Gu Guan is a dangerous place in the world. I just hope it is still in the hands of the intruders."
"Tian Jianxiu, Tian Jianxiu! Master Liu and I have discussed it and immediately send Zhang Pixuan and Liu Rukui to lead the cavalry troops to the Guguan area. If the Ming and Qing allied forces have not occupied Guguan, they should hurry up.
Enter Guancheng to help defend. If the enemy has already occupied Guancheng, we must do our best, regardless of the cost, and rush back to Guancheng while the enemy is not yet firmly established."
Li Laiheng was very confident, but neither Fang Yiren nor himself were optimistic about the current situation of the Shanxi war.
The situation of the defeat of Datong has been rumored for a long time, and they have a relatively clear grasp. However, after Tian Jianxiu and Jiang You led the army to the north, it is said that they were ambushed by Sun Chuanting near Yanmen Pass, and the losses were particularly heavy.
Clear information about the specific battle situation in the Battle of Yanmen has not yet reached Baoding. Li Laiheng only knew that the Chuang army was defeated miserably in this battle, with losses no less than those in the Battle of Datong, but the specifics of the battle were unknown.
He didn't know how many troops and supplies Jian Xiu had sent out.
Because of the road rumors, only Tian Jianxiu and Jiang were mentioned as important generals on the invading side of the Yanmen Battle, but not other Tian Jianxiu subordinates who were left by Li Zicheng in Taiyuan, such as Tian Hu and Ren Jirong.
None of his names appeared in the rumored battle situation.
So Li Laiheng estimates that Jiang must have played a big role in this battle. What good role can this repetitive villain play!? It seems that it can only have a negative role.
From this point of view, Li Laiheng was even more pessimistic about the situation in the Battle of Yanmen. Even after this battle, he was not sure whether the Chu army would be able to retreat to Taiyuan.
If Taiyuan is lost, there is definitely no hope of holding Guguan.
"One move can affect the whole body...Jiang Fu is a villain. With him by Tian Jianxiu's side, there is really no hope for the Chuang Army in this battle. Alas!"
Fang Yiren smiled bitterly and replied: "Aren't the two generals Chen Yongfu and Ma Bao also demoted from the Ming Army? Besides Jiang, Tian Hu and Ren Jirong, the deputy generals on Tian Jianxiu's left and right, were also in the Chuang Army as far as I know.
He was a surrendered general who only participated in the camp invasion when Luoyang was captured. Why was the palace lord so afraid of only Jiang? From my perspective, it was precisely because the palace lord repeatedly wrote to Taiyuan that Xiu Li and Chen Jiang could not be reused.
As a result, Tian Shuai doted on Jiang."
"When the Chuang army captured Luoyang, the situation was not yet successful. The Ming Dynasty was still full of energy. Tian Hu, Ren Jirong, Ren Guangrong and others who surrendered at that time have been with the Chuang army through life and death in the past two years. How can they be compared with Jiang? Chen Yongfu and Ma
Leshan, you yourself have seen what they are like, so why can't you reuse and trust them?"
"Perhaps in Tian Shuai's eyes, Jiang's performance as a person is also seen by him."
After hearing this, Li Laiheng could only sigh. In a sense, he used the Shangfang sword of the previous dynasty to kill the officials of the current dynasty. Tian Jianxiu did not believe that he was indeed the right way.