Of course, it is impossible for an army of 100,000 people to disappear out of thin air, and it is absolutely impossible not to leave any traces during the march.
After years of training, more and more generals of the Dashun Army have mastered the organization method of large-scale battles. They also have their own methods for predicting the development of the battle situation.
Liu Tichun quickly guessed the true whereabouts of the main force of Dorgon's army. Without Liu Tichun's reminder, the staff officers in the Military Academy who had already turned the map into pulp knew Dorgon's intentions very well.
"Shandong."
Li Laiheng emphasized again: "It is the Grand Canal. Dorgon has no intention of giving up the purpose of opening up water transportation?"
Gu Junen said nervously: "Generally speaking, in the Xuzhou and Yanzhou areas, the ice and snow will melt and the rivers will thaw by early March. Dorgon has suddenly changed the direction of his troops and sent his main force to Shandong. No matter how fast he moves, he will not be able to
Maybe we can cross the river before it melts."
Fang Yiren asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, should we still go directly to Kaizhou, or where should we go?"
This is a key question. The army under Li Laiheng's personal command is now in Yanjin. In which direction this army will be mobilized will determine whether Li Laiheng can destroy Dorgon's delusion.
But what exactly is Dorgon’s delusion?
Li Laiheng had already confirmed in his heart that Dorgon after issuing the order to shave his head was simply a delusional man. The regent completely placed his ambitions for fame and fame above the fate of the Qing court and the entire Manchu tribe, and he actually hoped to use this desperate measure
How to defeat the Dashun Army?
Li Laiheng was deeply amused, but at the same time he felt a little difficult to deal with the enemy's sudden attack.
"Dorgon must be going to Shandong."
Li Laiheng repeated for the second time: "Dorgon must be going to Shandong!"
All the generals of the Dashun Army agreed with this view, and there was nothing else to say. Tongguan was a long way away, and Shanxi was not suitable for large armies to deploy.
Since Dorgon suddenly transferred the main force and gave up his intention of conducting a strategic decisive battle with the main force of Dashun Army in Hebei, his next target was no other than Shandong.
"The question is, how will Dorgon go? Should we catch up, block him, or bite him?"
Li Laiheng asked and answered his own questions. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the staff officers to spread a large map on the snow on the spot.
All the important generals from the Shunjun Palace Central Army and the Palace Left Army followed the King of Jin and dismounted, gathered around this huge map, pointing out the country and making decisions on the battlefield.
"No wonder during this period, urgent reports came from Taiyuan repeatedly, saying that Jierhalang was attacking Taiyuan at all costs. I originally thought that Jierhalang was doing it for personal fame, but now it seems that he was also transferring Dorgon's main force.
Cover."
"Dorgon's goal from the beginning was to open up water transportation."
The generals discussed the final decision of the strategic decisive battle of Dashun directly on the cold snow using the map.
The soldiers of the Yulin Army stood in a circle, surrounding the core of the Shun Army. Taking this map as the center and spreading out in all directions, you can see layer after layer of Shun Army soldiers standing in a human wall, forming a thick and airtight
A tough line of defense.
"Is it still Liaocheng?"
Gu Junen speculated that Dorgon would attack Liaocheng again, because the last surprise attack by the Qing army not only exposed the Qing army's sneak attack intention, but also concealed Dorgon's main force's plan to move south from Liaocheng again.
The Shandong defenders probably ignored the second wave of Donglu's more deadly attacks because of their victory in the Battle of Liaocheng.
Li Laiheng knelt in the heavy snow, almost lying on the map and said:
"If Dorgon really goes to Liaocheng, this is an idea discussed by the Military Academy. If I don't make the response arrangements, I will be responsible for delaying the military aircraft. If I don't talk about it, it will affect the entire decisive battle of Jiahe. This responsibility cannot be shared by anyone in the Dashun Army.
I can’t bear it.”
Guo Junzhen also said: "Time is very urgent. It has been a while since the information from Kaizhou reached Yanjin. I estimate that the main force of the Qing army should have rushed into Shandong by now. We can also wait for the Shandong defenders to general
The situation of the enemy's march route has been sent, but this will take a while. By the time we confirm the situation and catch up, Dorgon will probably have about three days to move freely!"
Give Dorgon three days to defeat the enemy, what can he do?
No one dares to say!
However, the principle of the Dashun Army has always been to proactively meet the enemy and seek battle, rather than passively waiting.
Li Laiheng inserted the broken arrow into the location of Liaocheng on the map and said:
"Should we wait? Do you think I should wait for news from Shandong?"
Fang Yiren lowered his head and said in a low voice: "Your Highness has a case against you."
Liu Fangliang suddenly straightened up. He slapped his chest and shouted: "There is nothing to say! You are the prisoner. With an order, we can decide immediately whether we leave or not. But... Laiheng! We don't have much.
Time is hesitant. If the Battle of Harvest Deer is delayed for half a day again, how can we have the dignity to meet the late Emperor?"
Liu Fangliang is right. During the Huolu battle, Li Laiheng did not catch up with the decisive battle in the end.
Although he was only half a day short of time, it was this half day that caused the Dashun Army to suffer unprecedented losses and disasters.
Now that the opportunity has been presented to him, can Li Laiheng still hesitate?
Gu Junen bit his nails and calculated: "Liaocheng is an important node on the canal. Linqing Prefecture is in the hands of the Qing army. As long as Dorgon captures Liaocheng, the Donglu can capture the entire canal section north of Xuzhou.
From this perspective, it is very likely that Dorgon will go to Liaocheng."
"Your Highness! Liaocheng has just won a great victory. Gu Kecheng, Ma Bao, Dang Shousu, and Ren Jirong all have the possibility of taking it lightly. No one thought that Dorgon would use troops so boldly. It is very likely, very likely.
Maybe, Dorgon will definitely go to Liaocheng."
Going to Liaocheng?
This is a great possibility. As Gu Junen said, it is consistent with the art of war. Moreover, Dorgon had previously sent Boluo to test the defense power of Liaocheng. This may be a sign that the main force of the Qing army will move south from Liaocheng.
.
However, after Li Laiheng's own careful analysis, he made vigorous calculations on troop strength and food and salary in a short period of time. The intelligence system of the Dashun Army such as Long Yiwei brought back many figures that were ignored by ordinary people.
A very important point in this is the approximate storage situation of the Qing army's grain and fodder.
Judging from the Qing army's food reserves, Dorgon was actually not far from the cliff. As long as the Donglu could not win a decisive victory in this battle, the Qing government's internal collapse would come immediately.
"Go to Liaocheng? Control the north of Xuzhou? This is not enough!"
Li Laiheng concluded: "Dorgon wanted to have a lively decisive battle with us. The victory would be determined in one battle, and then he would march into the Central Plains and snatch food. Only then could the Qing court's own food crisis be solved. After leaving Liaocheng, Chief Rui
It won't be done.
The situation is already obvious. Chief Rui will definitely turn from Kaizhou directly to Puzhou and Yuncheng in southwest Shandong. He may even take the risk of bypassing Jining Prefecture and go directly to Xuzhou.
Only by capturing Xuzhou can water transportation be opened up."
Gu Junen's scalp was numb: "Liaocheng and Jining are both important towns in the northern section of the canal. Will Dorgon bypass all these important towns and go straight to Xuzhou? Then he will have no way to return."
"At this time, as long as the Qing army is defeated, it doesn't matter whether they have a way back or not."
Li Laiheng was rarely as confident as he was now. He had always lacked confidence in important strategic decisions. Li Laiheng never felt that he had the extraordinary judgment of Huang Taiji and Li Zicheng.
Li Laiheng even felt that the strategic judgment of any general in the Dashun Army was higher than his own.
But at this moment, he finally felt that the answer was right in front of him.
Li Laiheng stood up abruptly, without even looking at the map on the snow, and walked towards the direction of the war horse. All the important generals of Dashun Army stood up and followed King Jin, and the map was immediately
Hidden beneath the fluttering snowflakes.
Gu Junen still asked: "What should you consider?"
"Is there anything else to consider?" Li Laiheng turned around and said, "We are not going to Kaizhou. Dorgon has left, so we will leave too. All seven divisions will catch up. We will go directly from Yanjin to Caozhou and Dingtao.
When we go to Caoxian County, we must stop Dorgon in the north of Xuzhou!"
Before Li Laiheng could issue another order, Fang Yiren blurted out: "The defenders of Hebei and Shandong will also be mobilized, and they all need military orders and edicts for mobilization."
Although Gu Junen still had doubts about Li Laiheng's decision, as the president of the Military Academy, he had good qualities as chief of staff, so he immediately answered:
"I will draft the transfer documents. Liu Rukui, Liu Tichun and Liu will guard the front line in Hebei, and Li Polu will follow us into Shandong. In Shandong, according to His Highness's deployment, a total of seven divisions of the Dianzhong Army and the Dianzuo Army rushed to the north of Xuzhou to intercept Dole
"Gun, Gu Kecheng, Ma Bao, Dang Shousu, Ren Jirong, and Xu Du all left their infantry to guard the front line of Mount Tai to defend Azigh, while the cavalry were all mobilized to attack Dorgon from the east of the canal."
Li Laiheng said with a smile: "Okay, Gu Haozhi is the one who has a suspected case!"