Gao Yigong has led the rear army to reinforce the Tongguan front line one after another, while Yuan Zongdi is commanding the right army to defend the four Yellow River prefectures - this is Li Laiheng's plan to use his experience in guarding the three cities of Yansui to fight again.
Gu Kecheng commanded the Dianqian Army, which was adapted from the Zhongying Camp, to defend the Shandong front line.
Of the five field army commanders in Dashun, only Guo Junzhen and Liu Fangliang are still in Kaifeng. The Dianzhong Army and Dianzuo Army in their hands total 780,000 or 80,000 elite troops, which is currently the most elite force in Dashun.
Li Laiheng always left these troops and horses near Kaifeng as a mobile general reserve, motionless. Not to mention the generals of the front army, rear army, and right army who were fighting on the front line were puzzled and unconvinced, even if
Liu Fangliang, who was also left in Kaifeng, was full of confusion.
After the Tianniu Incident subsided, Liu Fangliang, who was Li Guo's closest friend, decided to support his "student" Li Laiheng to directly supervise the country and take power, allowing Li Guo to "retire" from illness.
Liu Fangliang's decision surprised most people within the Shun Army at the time. Even Fang Yiren, who thought he was an expert in predicting events, did not expect this.
Only Li Laiheng knew how deep his relationship was with Master Liu, and how well Master Liu understood Chu Chuang's potential, so he could be sure that Liu Fangliang would support him in the critical moment.
After the incident, Liu Fangliang continued to take charge of the Dianzuo Army. Li Laiheng also reciprocated his favor. He gave great preference to the reorganization of the Dianzuo Army in terms of ordnance materials and military strength. The Dianzuo Army has become the second largest army in the Dashun Army.
The elite of the palace army.
But after all, Liu Fangliang was aggressive and aggressive, and the entire Dian Zuo Army was imbued with Liu Fangliang's fighting and bravery. People were confused as to why the King of Jin would keep such an elite army near Kaifeng.
Do not move.
Liu Fangliang came to the Military Academy again to find the King of Jin. He took Ma Shiyao and Niu Chenghu, the commanding generals of the three divisions of the Dianzuo Army. Only Liu Rukui led a partial division of the Dianzuo Army to garrison in Zhangde Mansion, as well as many fruitful people in the army.
Yi, a general with a mighty title, blocked the door of the official office in a menacing manner.
The staff officers made a noise. Gu Junen, the Secretary of the Military Government, stretched out his hands to push away the crowd, rushed to Liu Fangliang, and said coldly:
"Mr. Baoding! This is the third time you have come to the Military Academy."
Ma Shiyao had a straight face. He took half a step and wanted to say something, but Liu Fangliang reached out to dissuade him.
Liu Fangliang sighed slightly. He was wearing half a cloth armor and did not carry any weapons. He was still in casual clothes and said:
"Shang Shu, Shangshu, is the King of Jin in the Military Academy? I am not here to disturb the official duties of all the staff officers. In fact, the elite troops of the front army, the right army, and the rear army have been sent to the front line for many days, but the left army has always stayed behind.
Kaifeng Mansion has nothing to do. The soldiers are eager to fight, and they are boiling. Can't the King of Jin and the Military Academy give a reason to convince the public? "
Everyone knows that since mid-January of the first year of Guangzhong, the front army, the right army, and the rear army have marched to the front line. Today, nearly ten days have passed. Military information documents from the front line are flying to Kaifeng like snowflakes, everywhere.
This was a fierce and urgent situation. Given the status of Liu Fangliang, Liu Rukui, Ma Shiyao, Niu Chenghu and other generals, they were all aware of this.
"Why on earth does King Jin always stand still?"
Even Niu Chenghu, a surrendered general of the Ming army who had been very honest and calm after his return to Chengdu and Dashun, had the same doubts.
Before Gu Junen could answer, people saw a group of guards with black and white rooster feathers on their iron helmets, separated the crowd, and escorted King Jin out.
Li Laiheng wore a red and yellow round-necked python robe and a Tang Dynasty-style futou, looking chic and calm.
He came out, smiled and said:
"Taiyuan and the four prefectures of Hebei have been in an emergency of war recently, so does Master Liu think it is necessary to send troops for reinforcements?"
Ma Shiyao said on behalf of Liu Fangliang: "The main reason is... Alas! To be honest with His Highness the King of Jin, the main reason is that everyone in the left army is gearing up. After everyone heard about the situation of the war in Hebei, they were all eager to fight."
Li Laiheng waved his hand and said: "Staff officers, move all the sand tables to the courtyard."
Several sand tables in the Military Academy were made by Staff Officer Cao Benrong with the assistance of Jesuit priests. They carved the mountains and rivers geography of North China out of wood, with a Yellow River running through it, and painted them with paint, using chess pieces as the figures.
The soldiers and horses of the Qing and Shun armies let people know the current situation on the front at a glance.
Li Laiheng held the half-cut arrow in his hand as a baton, pointed at the sand table map and said:
"According to the military situation on the front line, the Qing army is estimated to have two to three hundred thousand soldiers and horses. The Military Council believes that the Qing army will march in three directions, with 60,000 troops on the east route attacking Shandong.
On the west route, 30,000 troops were used to pretend to attack Tongguan, and 50,000 troops were used to attack Taiyuan.
In addition, in the middle, we estimate that Dorgon still has hundreds of thousands of mobile troops, most of which are elite cavalry.
Such a powerful corps, mainly composed of cavalry, is now mainly deployed by Dorgon to attack the four prefectures of Hebei.
Is this a false shot with no other purpose, or is it a pressing push to break through the Yellow River from the center? It is difficult for us to judge, but the Military Academy summarized the military situation on all fronts and concluded that..."
Li Laiheng paused, and Gu Junen spoke on his behalf:
"The conclusion is: the general reserve team will not move."
This was the first time Liu Fangliang saw the extremely detailed map sand table in the Military Academy. As a famous Dashun general who had experienced hundreds of battles, he immediately felt amazed.
Niu Chenghu can be regarded as a general of the Ming army, but the Ming army did not have such a detailed and vivid map.
Niu Chenghu said with admiration: "Gu Shangshu is so talented that he will eventually be admired."
Liu Fangliang said:
"This... the opinion of the Military Academy is indeed good. If Dorgon still has hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses, and most of them are cavalry, it is indeed unlikely that he will choose to make a direct breakthrough in the four prefectures of Hebei.
But has King Jin thought about it? It will be February soon, and the frozen Yellow River will slowly thaw. I have already asked the Xuzhou people in the army. Everyone said that in February and March, the section of the Yellow River east of Guide will
, it will most likely thaw.
The lower reaches of the Yellow River are about to thaw, and it is unlikely that Dorgon will cross the river from the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The Tongguan line in the upper reaches of the Yellow River has steep terrain, which is not conducive to the use of Manchu cavalry.
So in terms of the result, couldn't Dorgon have no choice but to break through from the four prefectures of Hebei? Your Highness, King of Jin, I think we should transfer the best troops from Kaifeng to the river as soon as possible to deploy defenses!"
Liu Fangliang comprehensively considered the hydrological conditions of the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the climate changes after February and March, which can be said to be very insightful. His words did touch Li Laiheng, but on the Military Academy side, whether it was President Gu Junen or other staff officers
, all believe that Dorgon’s main attack direction has not yet been determined, and it is really not appropriate to easily mobilize Dashun’s general reserve team.
Gu Junen said directly: "Mr. Baoding is a veteran general on the battlefield, but making decisions on the spot and strategizing thousands of miles away are not the same thing. The Military Academy is a gathering of hundreds of people, and the final judgment is made after considering various circumstances.
The King of Jin should take the discussion of participating in the Military Academy as a priority!"
Gu Junen has shown very direct and clear dissatisfaction with Liu Fangliang, the general in charge of the military, for directly interfering in the scope of powers and responsibilities of his military government and the Military Academy.
He said displeasedly: "Mr. Baoding is the commander-in-chief of the palace's left army. Interfering with the affairs of the Privy Council is really beyond his authority."
After Li Laiheng coughed, he defended Liu Fangliang and said: "Master Liu is eager to fight, and it is not overstepping his authority. You are so straightforward, don't talk like this. Not long after the founding of the new dynasty, the relationship between courtiers and commanders must follow the Ming Dynasty."
Is it a bad habit of holding each other back? Don’t talk like that.”
Gu Junen then apologized to Liu Fangliang and stepped back. Li Laiheng sat on the edge of the map sand table, his eyes fell on the line of the Yellow River painted in white, and his hands touched the ground. Liu Fangliang's words did shake his own judgment.