At this time, the Eastern Expedition of the Volunteers was in an uproar, and several provinces in western Hunan and Hubei were shocked every day, and even the Manchu court, which was thousands of miles away, also fell into it.

As early as after the defeat of Sichuan and Hanzhong, there were successive defeats, and the Qing court fell into a big debate.

Some courtiers believed that the Volunteers were so powerful and irresistible that the southern mountains and roads were crisscrossed, the water network was dense, and the climate was hot, making them very unsuitable for the Manchu Eight Banners War.

In addition to its excellent battlefield command and strong strength, the Volunteers won consecutive battles, mainly because the terrain in the south was not suitable for the Manchurian and Mongolian Eight Banners battle.

On that day, the hills under Shunqing City were dense, the rivers were staggered, and Shunqing City was surrounded by water on three sides, and it was difficult for the Tartar cavalry to be effectively deployed, and it was difficult for the cavalry to rush up on the battlefield, so it was defeated by the volunteers and broke the myth of the invincibility of the Tartars.

In the next battle of Hanzhong, although the Tartars failed again, the situation was much better. Belenica gathered the newly defeated division to garrison Hanzhong, met with the victorious division of the Volunteers, and once defeated the 3rd Association, but in the end it was only because the reinforcements of the Volunteers arrived, and the two sides fell into a death battle, so they were defeated.

In the face of disturbances outside, the regent of the Manchu emperor, Dolgon, seemed unwilling, and Zhuge Liang was trapped in Xishu by Wei and could not enter the Central Plains for half a step.

Now that the Manchus controlled far more territory than the historical Wei state, if they gave up the provinces of Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou, and gave up their arrogant ambition to unify China, the ambitious Dolgon seemed reluctant. (After Li Dingguo's two famous kings, this argument appeared in the Qing court)

But Yang Xuan was ambitious, boasted of Yue Fei, and vowed to restore the unification of China in Kuang Fu Erjing, and now he wants to negotiate peace, even if the Manchu Qing is unified, the other party will not be unified.

After successive defeats, the Qing army lost soldiers and generals, especially the two banners of Manchuria and Manchuria, which were already half damaged, and the soldiers and horses had no time to replenish, and they were overstretched in the face of the attack of the volunteers.

Just when Dolgon was at a loss, the traitors Hong Chengchou, Fan Wencheng, Chen Mingxia and others said that in the past, the Central Plains Dynasty adopted the policy of using raze to control raze, and the Qing court could completely copy it and adopt the strategy of using Han to control Han, that is, to reuse Hanchen on the southern battlefield to resolve the current predicament.

Hong Chengchou, Fan Wencheng, Chen Mingxia and others quoted scriptures and classics, and they spoke of the Tao above the court.

At that time, the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Song Dynasty fled to Yashan, Xinhui, Guangdong, and it was the traitor Zhang Hongfan who destroyed the remnants of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Now that the Qing court has four Han princes, including Wu Sangui, Kong Youde, Shang Kexi, and Geng Zhongming, why not reuse these hardcore traitors and make them the main force to conquer Nanming and the volunteers?

In addition to these big traitors, the Manchu Qing Dynasty had already established the Eight Banners of the Han Army, and some generals had been Ming generals in the past, and they were also quite familiar with the south, so why not make them pioneers?

In this case, the Qing court changed course, and in the 6th year of Shunzhi (1649 AD), Dolgon issued a golden book and golden seal to Wu Sangui, Kong Youde, Shang Kexi, Geng Zhongming and other traitors, and made a promise to split the land and seal the king, that is, to divide the territory of the Southern Ming Dynasty to these traitors.

Wu Sangui is the strongest, with 35 leaders, was named the Prince of Pingxi, promised to defend Yunnan after the world, expand the army by 40,000, and join the Han army to set the blue flag Gushan Ezhen Li Guohan to garrison Guanzhong, waiting for the opportunity to attack Xishu at any time, just like the story of Deng Ai and Zhonghui back then, and leveling the southwest.

Kong Youde, one of the kings of Sanshun, was strong and strong, and was renamed the king of Dingnan, promising to defend Guangxi, and the department was expanded to 20,000, and went straight to Guangxi as the vanguard of the Qing army.

The other two Sanshun kings are still happy and Geng Zhongming's strength is slightly inferior, there were only twenty-five Niu Lu in the past, and there are only 10,000 people after the expansion, so it is difficult to capture a province alone.

Dolgon was full of confidence, and looked proud above the court, thinking that the Manchu Qing treated the Han Dynasty very well, far from being comparable to the Yuan Dynasty, but who would have thought that the Eastern Expedition Volunteer Army would be devastated, and the Qing army would still lose its division and land.

Faced with the current situation, Dolgon made a decision again, just like Wei defended Shu back then, and guarded against today's volunteers.

Wu Sangui, the king of Pingxi, and Li Guohan, the general of Pingxi, led the soldiers and horses of Guanning to garrison Guanzhong to guard against the Northern Expedition of the Volunteer Army.

He once again appointed his uncle regent Duoduo as the general of Dingguo, and led the Manchurian and Mongolian Eight Banners garrison Jingzhou and Wuchang to prevent the volunteers from going down the river and taking Huguang directly.

Prince Zheng Jierharang, who was in Hunan, was the general of Dingyuan, and led Manchuria to sit in Chang (Sha) in Hunan with a blue flag to prevent the volunteers from going out of Yunnan and Guizhou to the east. (Historically, Zilharang was named the general of Dingyuan in September 1648, and returned to the dynasty in January 1650, but because of the Eastern Expedition of the Volunteers, the southern expedition was unsuccessful, and its main force was pinned down in Hunan).

In order to stabilize the situation ahead, Dolgon sent envoys to the Mongol tribes and dispatched the Mongol cavalry to the south, either to guard against strategic points, or to join the war group directly. The Mongol cavalry sent south mainly included:

2,000 Mongol soldiers from Karaqin and Tumut were dispatched to defend Yanzhou

1,000 soldiers from the Karaqin and Tumut divisions guarded Jiangning.

3000 Mongol defenders Jingyue

Su Lang, the deputy capital commander, led 1,000 Mongolian soldiers to the town of Anqing

1,700 Mongol soldiers were dispatched to guard the river (south

2000 Mongol cavalry garrisoned eastern Guangdong

2000 Mongolian cavalry stationed in Guanzhong.

1000 Mongolian cavalry garrison chief (sand)

......

At this time, when he heard that Luckedhun was defeated and killed, the regent of the barbarian Qing uncle Zilharang, who was stationed in Chang (Sha), was furious.

This is another general of the barbarian Qing royal family who was killed by the volunteers after Haoge, Luo Luohun and Nikan were killed, and I heard that Li Dingguo used the elephant soldier Liahanikan and then cut off the back road of the Tartars, which is even more incredible.

When Kong Youde, the king of Dingnan, heard this, he shook his head and said: "Uncle Regent, our army has been defeated in successive battles because of the high ravines and deep ravines in the southwest region, and the roads are rugged, which is conducive to infantry combat, but not to cavalry combat.

Yang Xuan took advantage of the terrain to fortify layer by layer, lure the enemy deep, and then concentrate the main force to strike a fatal blow, so although my Eight Banners athletes were heroic, it was difficult to deploy, and in the end, they were defeated by their troops. ”

Jierharang was scheming, and now he calmed down from his anger, shook his head and said: "King Dingnan, Yang Xuan was able to kill Haoge, Luo Luohun, Nikan, and Lekdehun, and defeated me Manmeng Eight Banners, and I think there are also outstanding points."

It is rumored that it adopts the strategy of elite soldiers, and now although it occupies the three provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Shaanxi, Gansu, Huguang, and Guangzhou, the department is only 100,000, and it is expected that its troops are also very elite, and everyone should be cautious when meeting on the battlefield. ”

When Kong Youde, the king of Dingnan, heard this, he arched his hand; "Uncle Regent's lesson is that Yang Xuan came from the army, and he is cunning and abnormal, and it is expected that it will be difficult to be easy.

For example, today, my Qing Dynasty has occupied eight of them, Zhuge Wumu was still useless, Yang Xuan was trapped in the southwest corner, and it was even more difficult to compete with my Qing Dynasty. ”

When it comes to Zhuge Wumu, Ji'er Harang and others are full of energy, although everyone does not read much, they often hear the storyteller tell the story.

Now I can't imagine that I encountered the predicament of the year, Zilharang scratched his ears and cheeks, and I don't know what to do.

On the occasion of leaving Beijing, Dolgon Ke divided the goals for Kong Youde, Shang Kexi, and Geng Zhongming, if Kong Youde could occupy the entire territory of Guangxi, it would be the king of the land, and Guangxi would be his hereditary possession.

For the sake of this huge fiefdom, Kong Youde, the king of Dingnan, fought hard, and admonished: "The world is ten ten, I have occupied eight points early in the morning, and now Nanming is just shrinking in some areas of southwest and south China."

Our army only needs to pacify the Ming army in South China first and trap the other party in the southwest corner.

Although the volunteers are strong and strong, and Yang Xuan is treacherous and abnormal, he is just like Sima Zhongda back then, so that he is foolish and clever. ”

Zilharang hesitated, shook his head and said: "Having said that, you have also seen that the volunteers have defeated me again and again, which has seriously dampened the morale of our army."

Kong Youde pondered for a moment and said: "Uncle Regent, the day before yesterday, the regent of the emperor's father claimed that the rebellion in Datong, Shanxi has been quelled, and the north is worry-free.

In that case, we only need to use troops in the south.

Yang Xuan only controlled the land of northern Sichuan the year before last, and last year he used the killing of Yang Zhan to control the whole of Sichuan and the land of Jiayun (south, and this year to control the land of Guizhou, such a strong approach will inevitably cause many people to be dissatisfied.

It was rumored that Yang Xuan had a stir with the Yongli Emperor in order to divide the matter, Yang Xuan first asked to be appointed as the governor of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Yunnan, Guihu, and Guangzhou, and the minister named Chen Bangchuan under the Yongli Emperor forged a holy decree to confer him as the Duke of Qianguo, the governor of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Yunnan, Guihu, and Guangzhou.

Emperor Yongli felt that his power was too great, and only agreed to the governor of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, for which the two sides quarreled endlessly, and Yang Xuan, with the support of the squires, proclaimed himself the king of Shu, while Emperor Yongli did not recognize it at all".

When Ji'er Harang heard this, he laughed and said: "This Yongli Emperor's defense minister doesn't have this kind of defense method, Qianguo Gong, what's the big deal with the governor of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Yunnan, Guihu, and Guangzhou."

Just like we don't have so many taboos in the Barbarian Qing Dynasty, you are named the king of Dingnan, Shang Kexi is the king of Pingnan, Geng Zhongming is the king of Jingnan, and Wu Sangui is the king of Pingxi. ”

Kong Youde said with a smile: "Yes, we are still wise in the Qing Dynasty, and these people in the Ming Dynasty are sanctimonious on the surface, but in fact they are male thieves and female prostitutes."

In the past, when I was an official in the Ming Dynasty, I was careful every step of the way, and I was afraid of being caught with pigtails, but now the emperor's grace is vast, and there is nothing to repay. ”

And at this moment, the porter came to report, and Yang Xuan sent someone to deliver a letter and six wooden boxes.

Looking at the man with a sad face, Zilharang pointed to the three boxes and said, "Su Shan, this, what are these boxes in?" ”

Su Shan's forehead cried: "Regent, this is the corpse of the king of Lekedehun County and the commander of Liu Zhiyuan, Yang Xuan cruelly beheaded the county king, and then, and then smeared salt and let the small one be sent to the regent."

When Zilharang heard this, he retracted his hands and scolded: "Su Shan, you pig and dog are not as good as you, do you use this to scare the king?"

Quick, take it away, let people be buried well, it's really unlucky."

Shen Yongzhong, the Duke of Xushun, pointed to the three wooden boxes next to him and said, "Su Shan, what about the other three wooden boxes?" ”

Su Shan's forehead replied: "Grandpa, Yang Xuan said that he will march eastward in a big way, and will return to hunt on the Xiangjiang River with the prince, and he will use these three wooden boxes to hold the three corpses." ”

When Shen Yongzhong heard this, he was shocked and trembled.

Kong Youde, who was next to him, laughed, and personally opened the three wooden boxes, brought them, and nodded: "This, this wooden box is more suitable." ”

Shen Yongzhong said angrily: "King Dingnan, you are crazy, Yang Xuan insulted me and others so much, are you crazy?" ”

Kong Youde smiled: "Everyone, of course this king is not crazy.

Regent, think about it, the soldiers are very fast, if Yang Xuan really has the strength to advance eastward, will he greet us first?

If you really have the strength to advance eastward, maybe the soldiers and horses have already been killed under the city of Chang (Sha). ”

Zierharang looked at Kong Youde suspiciously: "King Dingnan, what do you mean?" ”

Kong Youde smiled and said: "Regent, Yang Xuan has betrayed the scriptures and proclaimed himself the King of Shu under the support of his ministers, and his position is unstable."

Regent, Yang Xuan has been fighting for the past two years, and it can be said that his strength has been exhausted. In Hanzhong, he sent He Zhen, Liao Qifang, Liu Tichun, Ma Chao, Zhao Desheng and others to fight against Prince Yu one after another.

But that is just the advantage of the terrain, if it is not for the advantage of the terrain, it has been defeated by Prince Yu in the past two years."

Yang Xuan entered central Yunnan in the name of revenge for Yang Zhan and occupied Guizhou, although the territory has expanded a lot, but the strength has been seriously damaged, in this case, Yang Xuan has no strength to go east at all.

Yang Xuan defeated Luo Luohun, Haoge, Nikan and others in the past, all of them took advantage of the terrain to grasp the battle and win in the rugged mountainous area, but on the plain, the strength of the volunteer army was simply difficult to compete with my Eight Banners Iron Cavalry.

Regent, look at how many soldiers and horses we have stationed to fight against the Volunteers.

In the Guanzhong area, there are tens of thousands of Mongolian iron horsemen.

The king of Pingxi led his troops into Guanzhong, while the regent led his troops into Hu (south.

Prince Yu sits in Tongguan and can support Xiangyang and the Han River at any time.

Our main force is cavalry, and the main force of the volunteers is infantry, as long as we resist a little for a while, when the time comes, the army of Prince Yu and the King of Pingxi will be killed, the enemy is strong and I am weak, so the volunteers will be defeated. And if in the mountains, it is said that horses do not run as fast as infantry, then we will surely be defeated.

Lord Wang, although the volunteers are brave and the terrain of the four (Sichuan) is difficult and dangerous, as long as we eradicate the two large remnants of the Ming army, we can have no worries when the time comes. ”

Jierharang pondered for a moment and said: "King Dingnan's analysis is reasonable, this king almost killed Yang Xuan's child, King Dingnan, you talk about it, what to do." ”

Kong Youde pondered for a moment and said, "The regent, you can order the kings of Pingnan and Jingnan to quickly capture Guangdong.

Shen Yongzhong, the Duke of Xushun, led the green battalion soldiers and horses to guard against the volunteers, and Xiao Wang led his troops to capture Guilin and Guangxi (west, so that the two regions will be recovered. ”

Zilharang smiled and said, "For the sake of today, there is only that. ”