The main field troops of the Dianzhong Army and the Dianzuo Army split up and marched eastward, coming at a gallop, but the speed was still not enough for Li Laiheng.
"Dorgon's sudden detour to southwest Shandong and his direct thrust into Xuzhou was indeed beyond Gu's expectation. It was Gu who made such a big mistake that Xuzhou was already in turmoil. If it fell, Henan and Shandong would be destroyed by the Qing army. If it is isolated, the Qing army will be adjacent to the south of the Yangtze River, and our army's strategy of isolating the north and the south can only fail completely."
Li Laiheng first frankly admitted that he had made a mistake in deploying his troops, which resulted in the Dashun Army's solid defense line stretching for thousands of miles, but a vacuum zone of hundreds of miles appeared on the plains of southwestern Shandong.
The plains of southwestern Shandong were inherently undefendable, and everyone psychologically ignored the possibility that Dorgon might attack from now on.
It has to be said that Dorgon's 100,000 troops lingering in Hebei and his tactics of sending Prince Duanzhong Boluoqi to attack Liaocheng all played a role in concealing the true movements and intentions of the Qing army.
The effect is very significant.
Now the two elite troops of the Dianzhong Army and the Dianzuo Army, with about 80,000 troops, have gradually gathered in Dingtao. The army has been galloping all the way from Yanjin. The formation has become very loose. Many soldiers are also very tired, and the fighting condition is very good. question.
Guo Junzhen shook his head repeatedly: "To attack thousands of miles, you will definitely defeat the general. What's more, since ancient times, there has never been an old example of an army of 80,000 running thousands of miles. For such a large army and such a long march, the organization of each unit will inevitably be affected. If it becomes scattered, the combat status of the army will definitely become a big problem."
Guo Junzhen was an outspoken person. He was able to criticize other generals of the Shun Army, even senior figures like Liu Fangliang.
Now he is also mercilessly opposing the powerful Jin King Li Laiheng.
Gu Junen looked at Li Laiheng and showed no intention to refute, and then asked the staff officers to explain to the generals the next combat intention formulated by the Military Academy.
Gu Junen said: "It is still a long way from Dingtao to Fengfei and Xuzhou, but if we just use the cavalry team to move quickly at night under the stars, it is estimated that we can get there in one day and night or at most two days and nights. The Military Academy has already arranged a new march plan. First, take the Yulin Army and the Three Wall Elite Cavalry of the Dianzuo Army as the vanguard, and gallop overnight to Feng County to station and watch the battle, while the rest of the army will advance slowly to avoid unexpected events."
The generals followed Li Laiheng from Yanjin to Dingtao in the middle of southwestern Shandong without sleeping day and night, and they did not feel tired and unbearable yet.
But like Fang Yiren, Gu Junen, and other officials from the six governments, the Military Academy, and the Yingtian Academy who followed the army to fight, their fatigue is now showing.
Fang Yiren has followed Li Laiheng to fight in the world for a long time. Logically speaking, although his martial arts skills are not very good, his riding skills and physical strength are better than those of ordinary soldiers. But now he also looks drowsy. When Li Laiheng sees this situation, He also knew that it would be difficult for these civil servants to maintain such a fierce pursuit.
Li Laiheng nodded and said yes. Following the suggestions of Guo Junzhen and Gu Junen, he decided to set up a rear base camp in Dingtao and ordered Fang Yiren and others to stay in Dingtao to arrange the subsequent march route of the army.
He, Guo Junzhen, Liu Fangliang, Hao Yaoqi, Zhang Pili and other generals led the elite cavalry drawn from each army, totaling more than 15,000 cavalry, and set off first to rush to Feng County.
Dingtao, known as Taoqiu in ancient times, is said to have been the capital of Emperors Yao and Shun, who ruled the world. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was known as the center of the world. It was one of the top metropolises at that time, and its geographical location was particularly important in the Central Plains.
It was at Dingtao that Xiang Liang was counterattacked by Qin general Zhang Han and died here; Han Xin rejected Kuai Tong's suggestion of a three-legged alliance and had just defeated Xiang Yu. Liu Bang also rushed to Dingtao, broke into Han Xin's camp, and seized military power.
In the year 202 AD, Liu Bang, the king of Han, who had unified the world, built an altar in Dingtao Si River and proclaimed himself the emperor, amidst the cries of his ministers calling for long live the country. The country was named Dahan.
"In the world!"
This piece of historical past came to Li Laiheng's mind, and he had a subtle realization in his heart. Then he looked around. From Chuangying to Chuchuang to Dashun Army, the coaches who had been together in the past few years were already in his mind.
He created such a powerful army and material force under his command, and also accumulated such a rich talent pool.
Li Laiheng looked at the surrounding civil and military officials from the Central Army, the Left Army, the Six Governments and the Military Academy, squeezed his hands tightly, and finally said with confidence:
"I have said that the battle against the Ming Dynasty cannot be rushed, but the battle against the Donglu cannot be delayed. Now it seems that this statement is correct. According to the general military law, troop strength, and baggage, the armored battle should not exceed the opponent and must not enter the battle. In fact, this is not necessarily the case.
.
In the more than two years of the Northern Expedition to the Ming Dynasty, the Battle of Dangshan, the Battle of Baigouhe, and the Battle of Shenzhou, we grew stronger, we became more refined, we relied on the great rivers, and we accumulated the conditions for a powerful decisive battle.
The current situation is like a scorching sun, with thousands of lights gathering at one point. It is no longer a problem to destroy the frozen river. If we don't take advantage of this good opportunity to fight to the death with Dorgon, how can we let them go?
Go back to Yanjing and repeat the history of the conflict between Song and Liao?"
Li Laiheng firmly pulled out the Yangwu Sword, and the cold light on the blade shone, reflecting his own face, as well as Dorgon's sinister and cunning face that remained in Li Laiheng's memory.
On the north bank of Feiyun Bridge, the Qing Dynasty's imperial father and regent also entered the Shun Army camp that the Qing army had just occupied. He looked around and was shocked by the battlefield ruins left by the Shun Army's fierce resistance. Bo, who had experienced fierce battles on the front line,
Hetuo repeatedly emphasized to Dorgon the strength, tenacity and difficulty of the enemy, making Dorgon feel impatient and irritable.
The regent now looked at the corpses on the ground. Not a single one of the Dashun soldiers had scars left on them that would have collapsed without a fight. Everyone faced the enemy and fought until the last moment before dying.
Dorgon said with lingering fear: "Back then, the late emperor led his heavenly troops into the Central Plains five times, launched a massive attack, captured Jinan, and killed the princes of the Ming Dynasty. The Central Plains was shaken, and he crossed the Yellow River and swept the Central Plains. For seven years, he worshiped De and stayed north of the Yellow River.
On the battlefield of Huolu, our court killed the traitor Li Zicheng, and Hebei surrendered, winning a great victory!
I don't understand why everyone is talking about Yelu Deguang's shortfall, as if this ancient battlefield in the Central Plains has a fate for us. Twenty years ago, Taizu raised an army to attack the Ming Dynasty with the Seven Hatreds, and defeated Sarhu first.
We also conquered Liao and Shen, and Liaodong surrendered. Wherever our troops went, we opened cities to welcome them like Fushun, Liaoyang, and Yanjing. It can be said that we took full advantage of the heaven and earth. The state of being invincible and invincible is still before our eyes.
Today, why are you so afraid of a band of thieves?"
In Dingtao, Li Laiheng ordered Gu Junen to be responsible for arranging the troops as backup, and he, together with generals such as Guo Junzhen, Liu Fangliang, Hao Yaoqi, Zhang Pilu and other generals, led a rapid attack with more than 15,000 elite cavalry.
He got on his horse. Although he had been chasing for two days and two nights without rest, Li Laiheng felt that his body had never been as light as it was today.
"The so-called strategic decisive battle, simply put, means betting on the fate of the country and the fate of the army. The word "bet" is very unpleasant, but I can't find a more appropriate word to replace it. That's it. I just put the bet on it.
.It is precisely because of this that when something happens before us, we can't help but feel our heart pounding. How can this be true? Why are we panicking? We are not afraid of burning, we are not afraid of melting ice, we are not afraid of scalding, and our hands must not tremble.
ah!"
Dorgon looked at the Burning Liucheng Camp south of Paohe River and gritted his teeth and said:
"No matter what, the battle strength is 100,000 versus 80,000, and along the entire Yellow River line, it is 300,000 versus 200,000. The advantage is mine!"
Li Laiheng looked back at Fang Yiren, who stayed behind in Dingtao, and said with a smile:
"Prime Minister Fang, with eighty thousand against one hundred thousand, two hundred thousand against three hundred thousand, is this a pot of raw rice? No! This is a victory that comes naturally and easily.
I have spent several years training together to forge such an elite soldier, just because at this moment, Dorgon’s head is already in my box!”