Originally, I felt that something was wrong when I didn't see a Jurchen who had been on fire for a while, and when I heard Cao Wenzhao say it, Lu Xiangsheng immediately looked around vigilantly and said: "Don't panic, you have to be calm now, the Jurchens haven't come out yet, they don't know how many of us are, and it's even more troublesome if we can't panic now." ”

Cao Wenzhao also calmed down at this time, and after thinking about it, he said with pride: "Yes, it's a big deal to fight with them, in the afternoon, I went out with Lu Jianjun to save Zu Dabi's charge, which was the most energetic one in the life of the last general, and it was very refreshing to rush into the enemy formation and slash left and right, as if I felt that I was similar to Lu Bu and Xiang Yu." ”

Lu Xiangsheng laughed and said, "Then we will rush him again, but we have to find a way out first." Now I estimate that the Jurchens have cut off our way back, and I am afraid that we will not be able to go back the way we came, and it is estimated that there are also ambushes under the city of Ningyuan and in the south of the city, I mean to set fire to their camp first, and then rush to the sea from the east, if no one stops us, we will go to Juehua Island. ”

Hearing Lu Xiangsheng say that he wanted to go to Juehua Island, Cao Wenzhao felt incomprehensible and asked, "What are you doing on the island?" Stuck on the sidelines? ”

Lu Xiangsheng said: "I think it's night, and it is impossible for the enemy to ambush on the sea ice, let alone that we will go to Juehua Island, so we should be safe along the way." We are more familiar with the terrain on Juehua Island than they are, and when they chase them, we will ambush them instead of them hitting our ambush, as long as we hold on until dawn, we can make a detour and rush back. ”

It was not impossible to rush back along the same road immediately, but it was dark and snowing heavily in the sky, in case the Jurchens dug a pit on the road and put a cloth on the tripping rope, it was very dangerous, and it was also conducive to returning to the city when the sight was better at dawn. The two were discussing, when a soldier came over and reported: "Lu Jianjun, General Cao, and General Zu Dabi have led more than 400 hammer soldiers to meet us, and they are now on guard outside." ”

Lu Xiangsheng and Cao Wenzhao were shocked when they heard that Zu Dabi was coming, and the two hurriedly ran out and asked Zu Dabi: "General Zu didn't see the Jurchens all the way?" ”

Zu Dabi said: "No, there are no ghosts on the road, but the snow is falling heavily." ”

Cao Wenzhao asked suspiciously: "The Jurchens won't run away overnight, right?" ”

Lu Xiangsheng thought for a while and said: "It's possible, the power of those grenades of Lord Ni during the day is too great, and it is estimated that the Jurchens are also afraid of running away at night, so they told everyone not to set fire to it anymore, and it is useful to keep some and move back." ”

Cao Wenzhao shook his head and said, "It seems that we are scaring ourselves and still trying to get out here, so do we chase them now?" ”

Lu Xiangsheng looked at the heavy snow in the sky and said: "Forget it, the ice and snow are not clear to see, in case the Jurchens are ambushed halfway, it is not good, it is serious to go back to the city first." ”

Zu Dabi also said: "Yes, Huang Jianjun and Lord Wang both said that whether the robbery of the camp can be done or not, it must be left with one blow, and the lives of the soldiers are the main thing." ”

Lu Xiangsheng said: "Then go back together and come back tomorrow." ”

Returning to a hall in the center of Yuezi Guancheng, Lu Xiangsheng told Wang Huazhen and Huang Daozhou about the robbery of the camp, and everyone analyzed that the Jurchens had really retreated, and couldn't help cheering loudly, and immediately asked someone to temporarily inform Yuan Chonghuan and Xiong Tingbi of the news to Ningyuan City and Ningyuan Pass overnight, and let the superintendent Gao Di play to the Military Affairs Yuan after Tianming confirmed the news.

Seeing everyone's happy looks, Huang Daozhou said: "The enemy's escape overnight reminds me of Lu Lun's "Stopper': 'The moon and the black goose fly high, and flee at night. If you want to chase away the light horsemen, the snow is full of bows and knives. The situation of the Jurchens running away overnight and the current weather conditions are very consistent with this poem. ”

Wang Huazhen said at this time: "The scene described in Lu Lun's poem is certainly very similar to now, but this official prefers Wang Changling's "From the Army": 'The desert is dusty and the sun is dark, and the red flag is half rolled out of the gate. The former army fought in Taohebei at night, and it has been reported that it has captured Gu Hun. 'It would be a great pleasure to be able to capture the slave chief Nurhachi alive one day.' ”

Huang Daozhou said: "Lord Wang, rest assured, there will be this day." ”

It snowed heavily overnight, and the next day it was clear, and the Ming army went out of the city again to inquire about the news, confirming that the Jurchens had all retreated and left, everyone cheered in unison and congratulated each other, and the superintendent Gao Di immediately wrote a recital, telling the story of the battle under the city of Ningyuan, he praised the military generals such as Man Gui, Cao Wenzhao, and Zuo Liangyu in the recital, and also praised Yuan Chonghuan, Wang Huazhen, Xiong Tingbi and other civil officials, and praised Huang Daozhou, Lu Xiangsheng, Zhang Xiangan, Ni Yuanlu, Sun Chuanting and other supervisors. Of course, he also strategically praised his overall arrangement.

At this time, in Nurhachi's tent in front of Ningyuan Pass, Erbel Daishan and Aobai were pleading guilty to Nurhachi. In these four days, the battle of the border wall, the car battle in the northwest corner of Ningyuan City, the siege battle in the east and south of Ningyuan City, plus a hedge of the cavalry of both sides and the people killed and wounded by grenades under the Yuezi Pass, the Jurchens killed more than 4,000 people in total, and thousands of wounded. Nurhachi didn't blame them deeply, but just told them to go back and settle the soldiers well, and prepare to go back to support Lushun.

Two days ago, Nurhachi received an urgent document from the defenders of Jinzhou, saying that a large number of Ming troops were found near Jinzhou on the 23rd, such as Mao Wenlong's Dongjiang Army, which surprised Nurhachi. In the past, Mao Wenlong's Dongjiang Army generally came to harass in summer and autumn by relying on the flexibility of the fleet, and in winter it had to retreat to Phi Dao, because the sea near the land would freeze in winter, and the advantage of the Dongjiang Army would not exist. Now that Mao Wenlong dares to come to Jinzhou in winter to show off his might, he must be bullying Nurhachi to concentrate on fighting Ning Yuan, and he can't take care of it.

Since the Dongjiang Army appeared near Jinzhou, Lushun south of Jinzhou must be very dangerous, recalling the earlier Daishan report that there were traces of the Ming army pushing the ship into the sea on Juehua Island, Nurhachi ordered Shuerhaqi, who was stationed in Yizhou, to divide his 50,000 men into 20,000 to rescue Lushun, hoping that the 500 people stationed in Lushun could resist Mao Wenlong's attack with the strong city wall of Lushun. Two days have passed and there has been no follow-up news from Golden State, which makes Nurhachi very uneasy.

Originally, he had been letting people bulldoze and fill the ditch in the past few days, and the Ming army retreated as soon as the artillery was shot, and used guerrilla tactics to fill the ditch in advance and retreat, making it look like he was preparing to attack Ningyuan Pass, but a sudden heavy snowfall made it difficult for Nurhachi to save trouble. The heavy snow filled all the nine ditches in front of Ningyuan Pass overnight, which made Nurhachi unable to do any more, but if he really wanted to send someone to attack Ningyuan Pass, he really couldn't make up his mind. It's okay for a person to run after a wolf with a big straw, and the wolf will be scared when he sees you with a big stick, but once you catch up with the wolf, you can't really hit the wolf with the straw, because then it will be exposed.

Nurhachi is like this now, it's okay to keep filling in the soil to make it look like he wants to attack, but now God helps fill in the ditch with heavy snow, but it's embarrassing, there are only twenty or thirty thousand people in his hands, and he has to take care of the grain and grass baggage, obviously the strength is not enough, Ning Yuan closed the muzzles of the eight black holes, and it was chilling to look at it, when Zhang Xiangan practiced four iron fire cages hanging with iron chains in front of Ningyuan Pass, Nurhachi completely dispelled the idea of rashly tackling key problems, which is also the reason why he didn't blame them deeply.

On the evening of the 27th day of the first lunar month, when the news of the Jurchens' withdrawal from Ningyuan City came, Zhang Xiangan knew that it was time to complete the task by himself, so he called someone to invite Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong Jinglu on the pass, and Zhang Jing'an, the general who assisted Xiong Tingbi in guarding the pass, that is, his eldest brother.

In normal times, alcohol is not allowed in the army, but today when I heard the good news, I made an exception to open a jar of wine and drink it together, and there were peanuts and beef and other drinks on the table. After three bowls, Zhang Xiangan said: "Lord Xiong, big brother, I think the Jurchens will withdraw their troops in the next two days, and before leaving, the Military Affairs Institute gave me a task, that is, to find a way to delay Nurhachi for a few days, and I invite you to come today to discuss it with you." ”

Xiong Tingbi asked, "How is Zhang Jianjun going to delay?" ”

Zhang Xiangan said: "I am ready to negotiate with Nurhachi in person. ”

Zhang Jing'an heard Zhang Xiangan say that he was going to negotiate in person, and couldn't help but shout: "Are you crazy? Now that the two armies are fighting, are you going to risk your life alone? ”