Hong Chengchou knew in his heart that he had no way out, and if the Qing Dynasty perished, he would not end well.
Therefore, after Dorgon asked, he hesitated for a moment and then answered Dorgon: "I want to know more details. I wonder if I can ask Lord Turge?"
He answered so cautiously, which made Dorgon happy and said quickly: "Yes, of course!"
If Hong Chengchou blurted it out, he might not be so happy.
At this time, Hong Chengchou gave him a feeling: reliable!
So, Hong Chengchou turned to look at Turg, saluted him, and then began to ask about specific details.
Turg had received Dorgon's instructions in advance and knew what to say and what not to say. Fortunately, he could answer most of the questions. At least some of the questions were difficult for him to answer, so he simply reasoned.
Don’t know anymore.
In fact, most of what he and Dorgon said to Hong Chengchou just now are true. It's just that if some things are said differently, it will give people a completely different feeling.
After listening to Turge's description of the situation in the pass, Hong Chengchou turned to Dorgon and saluted, and then asked: "Your Highness, I also want to know more about the situation in the Qing Dynasty. I don't know if I can ask more questions."
?”
This is to know yourself and your enemy!
With this thought in his mind, Dorgon quickly nodded and replied: "Yes, of course!"
Therefore, Hong Chengchou began to carefully ask about Jianlu's internal affairs again. This time, he had a comprehensive understanding of Jianlu's true strength.
After asking the question, Hong Chengchou did not speak immediately, apparently deep in thought.
Seeing this, Dorgon was very patient and did not disturb him. He quietly waited for Hong Chengchou to finish thinking.
Just like that, the Chongzheng Hall became quiet.
I don't know how long it took, but I saw Hong Chengchou raised his head, looked at Dorgon and said, "I have a little humble opinion. If you tell me, please give me some advice from His Highness the Regent."
Although Dorgon never asked, in fact, it was related to the future of the Qing Dynasty, so he was still a little worried and anxious. When he heard this, he quickly said politely: "Sir, please speak!"
After hearing this, Hong Chengchou said cautiously: "From a slave's point of view, the gap in national power between the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty is really big. If we want to continue to confront the Ming Dynasty, we can divide it into three strategies: short-term, medium-term, and long-term!"
Dorgon couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard that he was so particular.
You know this Hong Chengchou is capable!
There is no doubt that the gap between the national power of the Qing Dynasty and that of the Ming Dynasty is too large! Under such conditions, there are still three strategies, good, good, good!
Thinking like this, Dorgon quickly ordered: "Come on, give me a seat for you!"
After finishing speaking, he looked at Hong Chengchou again and said in a softer voice: "Sir, please tell me in detail what are the short-term, mid-term and long-term strategies?"
At this time, the chamberlain next to him had already brought a round stool over. Hong Chengchou only sat down on half his buttocks, and then answered Dorgon: "In the short term, it is to deal with the possible attack of the Ming Dynasty. With all due respect, my slave, if
If we go head-to-head with the Ming army at this time, our chances of winning are not high..."
This was actually what Dorgon was worried about. Therefore, when he heard this, he nodded.
"... From the slave's point of view, the only way to increase the chance of victory is to lure the enemy deeper. In this way, when necessary, Haizhou, and even Liaoyang and Shengjing can be abandoned. Then the cavalry can be used to harass the Ming army's supply lines.
, cut off its food and supplies, the final victory will definitely belong to the Qing Dynasty."
Having said this, he looked at Dorgon and checked his face before continuing: "It's just that this strategy requires the whole Qing Dynasty to be united. Otherwise, if some people take into account their own interests and cannot clear the country and do not want to evacuate, then there is no way."
Done!"
In fact, the implication is that this requires the courage of your regent.
Stretching the supply line of the Ming army, strengthening the walls and clearing the country, and harassing the Ming army's supplies are easy to say, but once you really have to do this, you really need to have a strong leader, and the top and bottom can work together, otherwise it will be very effective
Made.
Because this strategy is to kill a thousand enemies and suffer eight hundred losses.
After Hong Chengchou finished speaking, he saw that Dorgon was deep in thought and did not speak. After a slight hesitation, he continued: "The second best thing is that they can't fight the Ming army in offensive and defensive battles. The Qing army cannot.
Like the Ming army, the consumption was mainly based on cavalry mobile warfare, dragging the Ming army until winter came, and the Ming army had no choice but to retreat or stick to it. At that time, we would have the opportunity to conquer the Qing Dynasty!"
At this point, seeing Dorgon's face seem to show a slight change, as if he agreed more with this statement, Hong Chengchou quickly said: "However, such countermeasures also depend on the decision-making of the enemy and our commanders, as well as the morale of the enemy and our troops.
There are many factors, and it’s hard to say who will win or lose!”
After speaking, he fell silent, waiting for Dorgon to ask questions. Gu Shi
Dorgon's brows still did not loosen.
He was a smart man and actually understood everything Hong Chengchou meant.
According to Hong Chengchou, if there is going to be a war between the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the short term, there are three strategies: upper, middle and lower.
The first one, which Hong Chengchou didn't say clearly, was that the soldiers would come to block the water and cover it with the earth. It would still be the same as before. In that case, the Qing Dynasty would probably be defeated, lose the city, lose the land, and lose the troops!
The second is not to fight hard, but to engage in guerrilla warfare to delay as much time as possible until the Ming army can no longer use it up.
This method of warfare is also risky, because it depends on the decision-making of the commanders of both sides, the morale of their respective armies, etc.
From Dorgon's own perspective, the Ming army had already won two major victories in a row. If this was done, the chances of the Qing Dynasty suffering heavy losses were not small.
The third method, which is also the method that Hong Chengchou most agrees with, is to lure the enemy deep into the territory. You can even abandon Liaoyang and Shengjing and only use cavalry to harass the Ming army.
This strategy has a great chance of winning. But the price is that the Qing Dynasty will also suffer a lot of material losses. However, if you prepare in advance, the losses can be reduced.
For example, transport supplies to the north first and store them there. If the Ming army attacks, at most they will lose cities and grain fields that cannot be moved away. Life in the Qing Dynasty will become more difficult.
Dorgon knew in his heart that if he adopted this strategy, his prestige would not be enough. Daishan and other princes would need to agree and cooperate together to make such an action.
After thinking about it for a while, he did not make a decision on the spot. He just looked at Hong Chengchou with a solemn face and continued to ask him: "What about the mid-term strategy?"
Dorgon's reaction was actually within Hong Chengchou's expectation, so he was not surprised at all. After hearing the question, he immediately replied: "The mid-term strategy is based on the fact that the Ming Dynasty will not send troops to attack us immediately.
The Qing Dynasty, therefore, the most important thing for the Qing Dynasty is to enhance the national power of the Qing Dynasty, this is fundamental!"
When Dorgon heard this, he was very interested and asked quickly: "How to strengthen the Qing Dynasty's national power?"
Relatively speaking, other things are just trivial matters. Only when the country is strong can other things be done more smoothly.
Dorgon knew this truth very well and could see it clearly.
If it were someone like Duduo or Hauge, they might not be able to see so far.
At this time, Hong Chengchou heard Dorgon's question and immediately replied: "National power is nothing more than population and materials, and materials include the food, clothing, housing and transportation needed by the population..."
Dorgon listened very carefully and kept nodding.
"... It is normally impossible for the population to increase dramatically in a short period of time. The only way to supplement the population is to rely on external population. Based on the past habits of the Qing Dynasty, my slave suggested that we need to increase the number of conquests for girls born in the north."
This matter is what Jianlu has been doing. Therefore, Dorgon listened, nodded and said, "What else?"
He knew that what Hong Chengchou was referring to would not focus on this, because even if he didn't say anything about it, the Qing Dynasty was still doing it.
Sure enough, I heard Hong Chengchou continue to say: "The population in North Korea is also needed by the Qing Dynasty. I just know that the people of North Korea live in extremely poverty, and their officials, gentry, kings, etc. live in disgrace. Therefore, the Qing Dynasty only needs
Killing all the officials and gentry in North Korea and giving some benefits to the North Korean people will make the North Korean people return to their hearts. Only in the same way can the Qing Dynasty have a usable population in a short period of time!"
Having said this, he immediately added an explanation: "When the slaves were suppressing thieves in the pass, they saw many similar things. The thieves were not engaged in production and fought repeatedly. The fundamental reason was that they would rob the officials and gentry in the pass.
Thinking it was his own use, he held the people hostage, hung them with a little food, and then drove them to attack the city."
"It's a little different from the banditry, and different from the Qing Dynasty's previous strategy towards North Korea. We in the Qing Dynasty need the population of North Korea. To have a population of like-minded people in a short period of time, we can't just rely on force to subdue them, but use both kindness and power.
In this regard, I have always felt that the Qing Dynasty did a very good job!"
Why are many soldiers of the Ming army poor in combat effectiveness, but after surrendering to the Jianlu, their combat effectiveness increased dramatically? This is because the Jianlu were able to show both kindness and power, with clear rewards and punishments.
Hong Chengchou saw this very clearly. At this time, he suggested using similar means to control the North Korean people, instead of just relying on North Korean bureaucrats to squeeze North Korea!
Hong Chengchou believed that Dorgon could tell the difference with his shrewdness.
Sure enough, after Dorgon thought carefully for a long time, he nodded and asked, "What are the long-term countermeasures?"
Although there was no clear decision, Hong Chengchou knew that he had an idea.
Therefore, he did not ask Dorgon anything, but continued to explain the long-term strategy that Dorgon asked about.