Although Li Laiheng left behind the shrewd, capable, bold and careful Chen Yongfu and a garrison of more than 20,000 people in Zhending City, he and Liu Fangliang also demobilized most of the cavalry in Zhending City, leaving the Qing army
When the large army of soldiers and horses approached Zhending, the defenders in the city seriously lacked the strength to carry out a counterattack while the enemy was not on a stable footing.
Huang Taiji came with great force, claiming to have millions of troops. Of course Gu Junen knew that the enemy's military strength was not so exaggerated, but judging from various signs, the Qing army had more than 100,000 soldiers.
Whether it is a million-strong army or more than 100,000 soldiers, it is not a force that the 20,000 defenders of Zhending City can contend with.
What should we do now that we are truly determined?
The atmosphere in the city was a little chilly, but most people still held confidence. Because everyone knew that Li Zicheng also led a main force of nearly 100,000 soldiers and had set out from Taiyuan long ago. It is estimated that he would be here soon.
Rushed out of Jingxingguan and arrived in Beizhili.
As long as this army breaks out of the Taihang Mountains, the Qing army will have no more time to besiege Zhending.
On the contrary, the Zhending defenders could cooperate with Li Zicheng's pro-unification army inside and outside to flank the enemy.
Therefore, Chen Yongfu insisted on his opinion and believed that the arrangement of the Shun army was very appropriate. Although Zhending's defenders had been weakened to 20,000 people, Zhending was a Fucheng and the city was fortified. After Chen Yongfu took over the defense, he was very prepared to strengthen the city defense.
Turning the entire city into a fortress, it was as powerful as gold. The Qing army had no chance of endangering the city's defenses in a short period of time.
He was so confident that he and his son Chen De personally patrolled the city several times a day without any fear. Chen Yongfu explained Gu Junen's excessive worries and said:
"Your Majesty is wise and has already led 100,000 troops out of Taiyuan. It can take as little as one day or as long as two days, and our troops and horses will definitely leave. Gu Sima, do you think that Shenzhou City is only a small city, and the garrison strength is not as strong as ours?
Half of them withstood the Qing army's fierce attack for several days.
Now the Qing army failed to attack Shenzhou first, its morale was exhausted, and its siege equipment and elite soldiers and horses must have suffered a lot of casualties.
Zhending City is much stronger than Shenzhou, and the defenses we have made should be much stricter than Shenzhou. Now I am afraid that Huang Taiji will not let go and besiege Zhending, otherwise if the Qing army really dares to make a desperate attack on Zhending
, we only need to hold on for one or two days, and His Majesty can lead an army of 100,000 to come out of Jingxingkou to flank the Qing army.
If this is true, then the general trend of the world will be determined."
Chen Yongfu was a senior general who was accustomed to defending cities, and his experience in defensive warfare was much richer than that of Gu Junen, the hero of Boye's defense battle. Chen Yongfu's leniency somewhat comforted Gu Junen's somewhat shaken heart.
However, there was always a haze lingering on Gu Junen's head, making him feel that things were not as simple as Chen Yongfu said.
"There are countless cunning chiefs among Huang Taiji and Rongdi. General Chen understands the truth. Why can't Huang Taiji understand it? Although the Zhending defenders have been weakened a lot, the 20,000 defenders plus a well-fortified
Zhending City cannot be conquered by a hundred thousand Qing troops in a few days.
There is nothing to say about the fact that there is no danger of true determination. But can Huang Taiji not understand this? Sui Hou used to say that the most brilliant military strategist in the world today is none other than the chieftain Huang Taiji. Based on Huang Taiji’s past experience
Judging from Zhan Songjin's skills, how could he put hundreds of thousands of Qing troops in such a fragile position so easily?"
Chen Yongfu actually had doubts about this point, but since he was born in the army, he preferred to shelve problems that he could not figure out for the time being. After all, strengthening the city defense and preventing the Qing army from attacking the city was the important task Li Laiheng gave Chen Yongfu. As for
Chen Yongfu couldn't figure out other things outside the city for a while, so he gave up his plan to continue thinking about it.
Only Gu Junen has been struggling with this matter, because after the Qing army arrived near Zhending, it seemed that they only focused on creating a sky full of smoke and dust to intimidate the defenders, but did not launch an attack on the city. So Gu Junen simply returned to the headquarters of the commander's mansion.
, all the staff officers of the Military Affairs Department were meditating hard on the map.
When Xu Du and Cao Benrong saw Gu Junen coming back, they immediately put down their pens and stood up to greet them. Gu Junen felt a little irritable for some reason. He waved his hands to show that there was no need to be polite at this time, and then they learned about the military affairs department's movements about the Qing army.
Prejudgment of the situation, but after all, I feel that it still cannot solve the doubts in my heart.
Cao Benrong was also puzzled by this: "The reason why the captives attacked Shenzhou was to divert the reinforcements from Suihou and Cihou, so as to weaken the Zhending defenders. However, even if the Zhending defenders were weakened, there were still 20,000 people, and the Qing army
We still can’t defeat it in a short time.”
Gu Junen sat on the chair. He looked at the ceiling of the commander's office, thinking about the mystery of Huang Taiji's operation, and asked the staff:
"What exactly does Huang Taiji want?"
Cao Benrong replied: "Besiege Shenzhou to attack Zhending, and besiege Zhending to attack Jingxing. Jingxing is the Jin-Zhao Kongdao. His ultimate goal should be to conquer Jingxing and block reinforcements from Taiyuan, right?"
Gu Junen asked again: "What is the purpose of blocking Taiyuan's reinforcements?"
"By blocking the Taiyuan reinforcements, the Qing army can naturally slowly let go and break through Shenzhou. It is really a line of defense."
"ah!"
Cao Benrong's answer was calm, but Xu Du suddenly shouted, as if he thought of something unexpected. Then he rushed over, grabbed Gu Junen's shoulders tightly, and said in surprise:
"Sima, do you still remember! The secret message I sent from Beijing!"
"Secret letter?" Gu Junen also remembered this matter. Because Chen Zilong had wide connections among the scholars of the Ming Dynasty, he sneaked into the capital as a pawn of the Red Team and reconnected with his old friends who were dissatisfied with the Donglu's occupation of Beijing.
Sent a lot of secret information to Dashun.
"The secret message sent back by Chen Zilong...are you talking about the fact that Beijing's grain stores are in short supply and even the Eight Banners soldiers are eating old rice?"
Xu Du nodded first, then suddenly shook his head quickly and said: "Yes...but there is one more thing!"
"What is it?"
"The rumor in the capital that I told you! It is said that Huang Taiji is seriously ill and may die suddenly at any time!"
Gu Junen clicked his tongue and replied: "This matter... This matter is probably just a rumor among the people in the capital. Do you think Huang Taiji will suddenly die of illness and the Qing army will withdraw on its own?"
Xu Du replied seriously: "What if it is true? If Huang Taiji is really going to die of illness, he may not be satisfied with the small goal of blocking the entrance of Jingxing and defeating the defenders of Zhending and Shenzhou.
After all, although Jingxing Pass is a shortcut to Taihang Bajing Pass, even if the Qing army blocks Jingxing Pass, His Majesty can still take a detour and rush to support Zhending from the Huangyu Pass area in the south. The result is just to spend more time. Is it true that Huang Taiji
Are you sure he can wipe out the Zhili Shun army in this time?
That would be too much!
Gu Sima, if the rumors about the capital told by Wozi are true. Huang Taiji's fate is not long. If he is really aspiring to the world as Suihou said, then he will definitely not be satisfied with the mere Zhending, just a few cities and places in Shenzhou.
.If the plan is very grand, the world is now more important and bigger than the army that your Majesty personally commands.
I don’t think Huang Taiji can attack Zhending!”
After Gu Junen heard these words, he understood instantly with his quick wit. Huang Taiji didn't attack Zhending? He wanted to rush directly to Jingxingguan for a decisive battle with Li Zicheng!
No, that's not right. Although Gu Junen is still not sure how many soldiers and horses the Qing army currently has, there is no doubt that there are a lot of troops. The terrain in the Jingxing area is narrow, making it inconvenient for the Qing army to deploy its troops. It is not an ideal place for a decisive battle.
At this time, Chen Yongfu's son Chen De suddenly rushed into the commander's mansion with several guards. He squeezed through a group of staff officers and said hurriedly: "The Qing army seems to be starting a siege! We contacted the detective horses in Jingxing area, and all the messengers
After being intercepted and killed by the Qing army, the Donglu took up their stance, and it seems that they are indeed going to fight under Zhending City."
Chen De was quite excited when he spoke. He had not made many military exploits since he followed his father, Chen Yongfu, to join the Dashun Army. Now that the Qing army wanted to attack Zhending, they were setting themselves up for death. The city of Zhending was strong, so he only had to follow his father.
Keep your true determination, it is estimated that Li Zicheng will arrive in a day or two, and the Dashun army will cooperate internally and externally, and they will definitely be able to achieve an unprecedented victory.
At that time, not only Chen Yongfu may transform from an earl to a marquis, but he himself may also receive the reward of a knighthood.
However, both Gu Junen and Xu Du were greatly surprised. Xu Du said in disbelief: "Donglu has already attacked the city?"
Chen De replied: "It's absolutely true, Donglu has already begun to besiege the city!"
Gu Junen and Xu Du looked at each other in silence. Could Huang Taiji's condition have worsened more than they imagined?