Lu Ming

On the pier, soldiers boarding the ship and transport ships moving out of the berth became the main program of today.

Although multiple docks were opened at the same time, this wave continued until late at night... Various munitions and materials were continuously hoisted into the cabin, and pioneer troops mobilized from various places were also boarding the ship one after another.

Until the early morning of the second day, after three full days of operation, the Northern Expedition Fleet with a total of more than 2 people was finally ready to go.

On the early morning of August [-]th, at that time, the scorching sun was rising on the pier, and the auspicious light was shining everywhere.Han Xiaobo, who was wearing a general's uniform, led the high-level officials of the Northern Expedition Army, and paid a military salute to Cao Chuan, the cabinet leaders, and others who came to see him off: "Everyone, wait for the good news of our victory!"

Emperor Cao Chuan Cao, who was still wearing a boa robe, smiled and patted Han Xiaobo on the shoulder: "You go first, and I will go to Jiangnan to sit in the town later, so as not to prevent those gentry from jumping around."

Xia Shoufu, who had an encouraging look in his eyes, was worried in the end, and told Han Xiaobo a few more words: "When you go to set up a banquet, you will probably entertain two or three tables of guests... the ghost knows how many tables there are. So you You must be more careful and keep in touch with the rear in time."

"Yes, be careful!"

A quarter of an hour later, with a long siren, the Northern Expedition Fleet, composed of more than [-] large and small ships, set sail.

At this point in time, there are still five full days before the [-]th day of the eighth month when the Qing soldiers officially knocked on the customs.

In five days, the fleet will definitely not be able to reach the distant Tianjin, even the relay station Shanghai.

Fortunately, it is summer now, and there is a favorable wind going north.In addition, the coastal waterway is familiar, and the steam fleet has large ports along the way to supply coal and water.So this way, the Northern Expedition fleet maintained a speed of more than six knots.

Finally, on the eighth day after departure, the Northern Expedition fleet successfully arrived at the sea off Shanghai Port.

Fu Youdi, who originally thought he was going all the way to Tianjin, never thought about it, and only rested in Shanghai Port for a day.

On the [-]th, Fu Youdi and some prison administration colleagues experienced another large-scale transfer: the Yangtze River Fleet consisted of two battleships, four high-speed cruisers, and more than ten transport ships, carrying [-] The pioneering army and a large amount of military rations officially broke into the Yangtze River.

The destination of the Yangtze River Fleet is clear: the three towns of Wuhan.

For the time travelers who are committed to quickly quelling the chaotic times of the late Ming Dynasty, in the original history, Zhang Xianzhong's behavior of wandering around Huguang and Jiangxi, and finally entering Shu to commit massacres must be stopped.

Right now is the best opportunity: it is only 1636, and Zhang Xianzhong and his like are still fighting a tug of war with the government and army in Ganshan and Shanxi.As long as the Great Yan State dispatched troops to the three towns of Wuhan in time, it would be able to block the roads of all the rogues going south to Huguang and west to Shu, and confine them to Shanluo and other places.

This initial voyage is just to explore the way.Once the waterway is opened and the troops gain a firm foothold in Wuhan, more personnel, artillery and food will be mobilized in the future.

After setting sail, the Yangtze River Fleet was full of murderous intent.At this juncture, except for not publicly raising the flag to rebel, Cao Dashuai's troops no longer have any scruples.The fleet is rushing to open up the Yangtze River channel, and the two battleships are ready to bombard the Zhenjiang fortress.

However, for the long-corrupted navy of the Ming Dynasty, there is a high probability that this battle will not be able to be fought... The big shots in Nanjing must also be smart people who understand the situation and reason, and they probably won't let it go. Those shabby river defense troops rammed the battleship's muzzle.

On August [-], the Yangtze River Fleet set sail.

One day later, on August [-]th, the Northern Expedition Fleet, which was even larger and added [-] troops, set sail again from Shanghai Port.Target: Dagukou, Tianjin.

At this moment, Xifengkou, the most important natural barrier of the Great Wall in the north, had been captured by the Qing army for four days.

……

Regarding the many passes on the Great Wall, the emphasis in each period of history must be different.During this time period at the end of Ming Dynasty, Xifengkou was undoubtedly the hotspot of Internet celebrities in the strategic confrontation between Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Looking at the past from the navigation map, Hou Jin's strategic choice is clear at a glance.

First of all, the Manchu and Mongolian army located in Shengjing (Shenyang) wanted to go south, and the nearest and most flat and comfortable road was undoubtedly the Liaoxi Corridor along the coast.

But the Liaoxi Corridor is not so easy to walk.This road not only occupied the main force of the Guanning Army, but also built a series of chain forts + cities, which can be described as muddy every step.

Historically, in the last Ming Dynasty, although they repeatedly won tactical victories around this place, the Houjin regime was still unable to penetrate the Liaoxi Corridor... until that day, Wu Sangui personally ordered the release of Shanhaiguan, and together with the Manchurian army, defeated the main force of Li Zicheng.

Since the Liaoxi Corridor on the far right of the map is impassable, Houjin can only take the next best thing if he wants to enter the pass to rob.

The hilly area to the north of Yanshan Mountain, the Liaoxi Corridor to the east, and the Mongolian Desert to the west.Unless you want to go across the desert to Shanxi, otherwise, go out of Shenyang, walk through the hills, and finally pass through Xifengkou, which is the best route for the Houjin to reach the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

This route is the main route through which Hou Jin entered the customs many times.It overlaps with the later G101 route: Hiraizumi-Chaoyang-Fuxin-Shenyang.

The Houjin soldiers and horses are familiar with this route.Most of the river valleys along the way are easy to walk.The most important thing is that along the way there are Linghe River and Qinglong River that can provide drinking water for the army.

The end of the road is the high-altitude Xifengkou natural danger.

Although there are other passes near Xifengkou, only Xifengkou can quickly pass large groups of soldiers and horses.Therefore, every time he enters the pass, what Hou Jin Bingfeng pointed out must be the entrance of Xifeng.

The importance of Xifengkou is not only in the early stage of entering the customs, but actually becomes more and more important in the later stages.

Let's put it this way, when we came here, the Qing army, who were lightly loaded into the pass, could choose different routes, and even if they were in a good mood, they could go around the desert.

But once the looting was over, the Qing army, carrying a huge amount of goods and captives, became a bloated snake.

At this time, Big Snake had to go out from Xifengkou, take the shortest path, avoid the Great Desert and the Guanning Army, and return to Shengjing.

To sum up, the fall of Xifengkou is the firing of the starting gun for the battle.

This time, it is no exception.

On August 8, the second day after Emperor Chongzhen received the news of Jianlu knocking at the pass, the Xifeng Pass was broken.As many as tens of thousands of Jianlu's former army and middle army filed in from Xifengkou.

This time, Emperor Chongde Huang Taiji did not conquest himself, just like in history.

Instead of Huang Taiji commanding the 12 Manchurian army, it was the leader of the Zhengbai Banner, the No. 12 son of Nurhachi, and Azig, the king of Duoluowuying County.

At the same time, Doro Raoyu Belle Abatai (Zhenglan Banner) and Chaopin Gong'e Concubine Yang Guli (Zhenghuang Banner), together with Azig, formed the Big Three.

Next, the familiar plot was staged again: the Jianlu army first descended the mountain along the Xifeng Pass, and then captured the strategically important Santun camp at the foot of the mountain fifty miles away.

Santunying is the key point of the Yanshan Corridor.This place is a T-junction, with Xifengkou to the north, Zunhua to the west, and Ji Town to the west.After passing the last checkpoint, Ji Town, it is considered to be out of the Yanshan Corridor.The Gyeonggi Plain of Yimapingchuan will be exposed to the attackers at that time.

To the east of Santunying is Qianxi.After leaving Qianxi, you will leave the east entrance of Yanshan Corridor.At that time, Qian'an, Yongping, and the front line of Shanhaiguan will all be plains, with no danger to defend.

On August 8, the Xifengkou was breached, and on the 16th, Santun camp fell.

Last time, seeing the enemy attacking, the defenders of the Santun Camp who had been deducted from their military pay for a long time opened the city gate and betrayed the governor Wang Yuanya.

This time, what Luqi met was a weaker Daming.Although the Santun camp is an important pass, "the fortified wall is decaying and the army is slack." The vanguard of the Luqi team did not spend much effort to occupy this strategic point.

Any place that is dangerous and majestic can make it play its due effect, after all, it is people and the system.But the current Daming has long been decayed.Like Santunying, a military pass that cannot be overemphasized, is still like the last time, and it will fall down as soon as it is pushed.

On the 17th, the captive cavalry pointed directly at Zunhua.

Theoretically speaking, after breaking through the Santun camp, the Hou Jin army should go all out to get through the Yanshan Corridor to the west until the foot of the capital.On this basis, while besieging the capital of Daming, the army divided its troops to plunder the wealth and population in the most affluent Gyeonggi Plain.

As for Qian'an and Yongping to the east of Santunying, at least until the first batch of trophies are sent back, Houjin will allocate a small number of people to occupy them, in case someone steals the way.

Historically, this strategy has been correct and has never gone wrong.

In fact, the Guan Ning army, who was ordered to serve the king, would immediately go south to bypass the Yanshan Corridor and go to the capital to participate in the battle, and would not follow behind the Jin army to regain lost ground.

Because after Houjin occupied the three camps, facing the pass guarded by the northern soldiers, the Guanning army had no confidence to attack it by force.

And history has changed on this plane, at this point in time.

……

On the morning of the 18th, the second day after the fall of Santunying, the sound of rumbling horseshoes echoed at the east entrance of the Yanshan Corridor.

After a while, cavalry soldiers like dark clouds poured out of the mountain pass.

The leading cavalry holds up a banner.If someone has studied the Manchu script that has just been revised by Huang Taiji's order, he will recognize the title of the general who led the army: Chaopin Gong, Fore Consort Yang Guli.

Shu Mulu Yangguli, one of the founding fathers of the Qing Dynasty.Under the Zhenghuang Banner of Manchuria, the son of Lang Zhu, the leader of the Kurka Tribe, married the daughter of Nurhachi.

Yang Guli, as Nurhachi's son-in-law, followed Nurhachi as early as during his campaign, with outstanding military exploits and rich experience.

This time, Yang Guli was number three in the Manchurian and Mongolian army that left the customs.

The reason why Yang Guli's army was assigned a high position and the battle-hardened troops left the Yanshan Corridor ahead of schedule was to guard against traversers.

After all, the Jingguan back then was really frightening.

Although there is definite news this time, the southern Cao's army will not go north in a short time.But in this era, wars are based on months and years, which cannot be ignored.

As a result, Yang Guli led the soldiers and horses of the headquarters out of the corridor as soon as he broke through the Santun camp.The strategic goal of the Ministry is simple: try to occupy the strongholds on the eastern plains of Hebei as much as possible, and in the future, delay the Cao's troops who may appear from Tianjin.

This strategy was an important decision unanimously decided by Emperor Chongde when he convened the generals to discuss before the army set off, and it was an important decision that could not be changed.

For this reason, on the basis of the originally planned [-] sergeants, the Manchu Qing court specially added [-] infantry to Yang Guli to attack or defend the city, which was unprecedented in history.

Today, Yang Guli came with two thousand cavalry vanguards under his command.

Riding his horse up a shallow mound, Yang Guli, who had a thin face but broad shoulders, saw Qianxi County, more than [-] miles away, at first glance.

Next, he glanced across.The vast Hebei Plain, the Luan River, and even the distant vegetation villages all fell into his eyes.

"Akdan, take five hundred riders and go to the east to have a look."

"promise."

"Tuhun, take 500 people, go around the county town, and go to the south to have a look."

"promise."

"I'll take the rest of the people to fetch the county seat, and you have to come back before dark."

"promise!"

After a few orders, as many as [-] cavalry from Yang Guli's headquarters slowly spread out and spread out on the plain like three umbrellas.

After dismounting and resting for an incense stick, Yang Guli himself led a thousand cavalrymen and started slowly heading south along the Luan River.The journey of more than twenty miles was completed in less than an hour.

At the next moment, facing the north gate of Qianxi City, which had been put down and the drawbridge was lowered, Yang Fu'e, who had experienced many battles, couldn't help being suspicious, as if Sima Yi had been under the West City back then...

Probably due to the lack of a piano player at the top of the city to enhance the ghostly atmosphere, after hesitating for 2 minutes, Yang Fu'e sent a small team of cavalry into the county.

Not long after, Xianfeng excitedly opened the gate of the county seat across the suspension bridge, and waved his hand: "Fuer, all Ming people in the county seat have run away!"

"Did you really run away?"

Half an hour later, Yang Fu'e, who had wandered around the uninhabited county, sat in the hall of the county grandpa. It was a bit unexpected: Ming people really learned a lot from a pit, and all the people in the county like this. Ran? !Stop your legs!

The thing that surprised Mr. Fu is yet to come.

In the evening, the two groups of people he had scattered came back.These two groups of people brought back bad news by coincidence: without exception, all villages in Mingguo within half a day's ride were burned to the ground...the villagers all disappeared from their work.

Standing up suddenly, looking at the afterglow of the setting sun that had already fallen on the city wall, Yang Fu'e suddenly felt something was wrong at this moment: counting from the moment he knocked on the gate, he had rushed to Qianxi County without stopping.

If it is said that they saw wolf smoke, the county officials had already made plans.But how could the people of the four villages burn their homes so cruelly and run out of the range of the horse's legs on two legs?

Such a strange solid wall and clear field made Yang Fu'e chill.In the dark, a surname that he didn't want to mention suddenly appeared in Fu Que's thoughts: "No, the villagers ran away when they saw the wolf smoke."

Forcing himself to calm down, Fu Que immediately ordered: "Close the four doors tightly, eat and rest, follow me to the south tomorrow to investigate."

"promise."

"Hmph, I'd like to see, the villagers of Dongsan Mansion have really run away!"

……

It was night, the moon was dark and the stars were sparse, the sky was dry and everything was dry, and I could only see half a finger when I stretched out my hand. It was the night when the night was dark and the wind was high and killing people.

In the small woods outside the county seat, a few black figures who had been observing for a while sent radio waves to the rear.

Three full hours later, a thousand elite soldiers of the Chunlei Battalion, who came on foot with their hoofed horses, came to the grove.After a short rest, the commander gave an order, and all the soldiers got on their horses, lit torches, and rushed towards the county seat.

The Eight Banners elite sentry at the top of the city sounded the alarm as soon as the cavalry charged.At the same time, the resting banner soldiers began to get up from the bed amidst the bleak sound of horns.

Yang Guli, who hadn't slept because he was worried, ran up the city wall in his coat: he needed to evaluate the information of the incoming enemy before he could issue combat orders.

Yang Fu'e, who had climbed the city wall, immediately estimated the number of incoming enemies.However, no matter how stupid Yang Guli was, he would not send troops out of the city in the dark under such a dark night. Who knew where his opponent might be ambushing.

As for the cavalry under the city... just close the four doors and it's over.At dawn tomorrow morning, thousands of people want him to look good every minute.

The next moment, densely packed rockets passed over the top of Yang Fu's forehead.

"Not good! It's a fire attack! There's an ambush in the city!"

Yang Fu'e is worthy of being the UP owner of the travel area who has experienced many battles. He was brushed as a rocket, and immediately understood the intention of the big brother.

However, it's too late.

As the first rockets landed, the houses in the county that had been smeared, sprinkled, and painted with various flammable and explosive substances prohibited by the state immediately burst into flames.Qianxi County, which is dominated by wooden structures, produced an explosive effect that made fans' scalps tingle in minutes. The brothers outside could feel this hot enthusiasm through the city wall.

Chapter 720

It was night, and the fire in Qianxi County was so bright that it could be heard hundreds of miles away.

Man Qi, who realized that he had been tricked, fled outside the city immediately.At this time, I didn't care about any ambush, and all of them got on their horses and opened the four doors and rushed out... If you wait for a few more minutes, you will become a desert barbecue without an ambush.

The cavalry who left the city in a panic were immediately greeted by bullets.

Bright flares provide good visibility for the blockers.The fugitives, whose clothes were disheveled and whose skin was dripping with blood from the flames, had been falling to death since the moment they left the city.

At the moment of life and death, the desperadoes, regardless of their companions, bowed their heads and beat their horses desperately, trying to disrupt the opponent's formation and break out a way out for themselves.

At this moment, the gunpowder buried under the city wall in advance was finally detonated.The city wall with rammed earth and bricks made a rumbling sound of collapsing.The strange sound was like a galloping giant beast, which made the desperate people frightened.

Not long after, Qianxi, a stronghold that could have been garrisoned by soldiers, was deliberately bombed into a dilapidated ruin.

In the end, under the attack of raging fire and bullets, and in a night attack, Ebo Yangguli escaped with only [-] cavalry.

The unimaginable dismounting of the horse greatly surprised Azige, the king of Duoluowuying County who was still sitting in Santunying.