On April 20 of the second year of Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty (1629 AD), with the arrival of Azig's cowhide letter in Shengjing, the news of the defeat of the Dajin Kingdom at the Taizi River quickly spread in Shengjing.

This time, even the always calm Huang Taiji couldn't sit still: in the past year or two, the Dajin Kingdom and the Ming Dynasty have clashed, not to mention the loss of the wounded division, and the defeat is worse than the other, from Yue Tuo to Mang Gurtai, and then to Azig, no matter who is replaced to lead the army, the result of the battle is the same.

What Huang Taiji was most afraid of happening, but it all happened, he didn't guess the beginning, let alone the end, accident, what a surprise.

Huang Taiji originally did not want to announce the results of the defeat in Shengjing, but some of the defeated soldiers who fled back from the Taizi River had already spread the news, and Shengjing was rumored for a while, making people panic, and he could no longer hide the truth, and Huang Taiji also hoped to arouse the sense of crisis of the Jurchen nation, stimulate the cohesion of the Jurchen nation, and expect the whole nation to hate the enemy, unite as one, and be ashamed.

Sixty Niu Lu, annihilated in World War I, such a thrilling fiasco, touched the nerves of everyone living in Shengjing, no matter what work he was engaged in.

Zhu Youzhen, who was far away in Liaohetao, also received Hai Dongqing's flying pigeon transmission at the first time.

Shengjing is even more prosperous.

Huang Taiji is about to convene the Supreme Military Council again.

The only people who attended the meeting were the four flag masters who stayed in Shengjing, and these four flag masters were actually two pairs of father and son: Huang Taiji and Haoge, Dai Shan and Yue Tuo.

"I already knew that Azig was a soft egg, how could he command sixty cows?" Hauge has always had a gap with Dolgon, and even with the three brothers who don't like Dolgon, Azig is defeated, and of course he will fall into the ground.

Huang Taiji glared at him fiercely, so frightened that Haoge swallowed the second half of his words deeply.

Yue Tuo, like Ah Ji, was also defeated in front of the Ming army, but it was only because he was a close confidant of Huang Taiji that he barely kept his position as the owner of the Red Banner with the Red Flag, and he felt that he had no right to speak.

Recently, he had a huge poisonous sore on his back, and at such an important moment as the re-establishment of the red flag and the Ming army desperately counterattacked in Liaodong, in order to keep the position of the flag owner, he did not dare to tell Emperor Taiji that he had a poisonous sore, and he did not dare to leave the barracks to heal, so he was mentally depressed.

Seeing that the scene was cold, Da Beldaishan quickly changed the topic: "Great Khan, in the battle of the Prince River, what mistakes did Azig make in using his troops?" ”

Huang Taiji shook his head slowly: "Although I know that I may be hit by the Ming army, but in order to save Liaoyang, the Taizi River must be crossed, in fact, some soldiers have already crossed the Taizi River, if it weren't for the flood in the upper reaches......"

Hauge shook his wide robe: "He is relying on sixty oxen, so he is too underestimated." ”

Huang Taiji didn't stare this time, but cast an appreciative gaze: "Haoge, tell me, what will Azig's remnants do next?" ”

Hauge's confidence greatly increased: "Amma, Azig defeated the Taizi River, the troops suffered heavy losses, and he definitely did not dare to return to Shengjing for a while, and Erchen estimated that he would not dare to cross the Taizi River again, he is now in a dilemma, and even stationed on the north bank of the Taizi River, he is afraid." ”

Dai Shan said in a low voice: "It's good to set up an account on the north bank of the Taizi River, and you can also contain a part of the Ming army and reduce the pressure on Liaoyang City." ”

"The question is, how long can Liaoyang City hold out?" Huang Taiji seemed to mumble to himself.

Dai Shan's gaze moved to Huang Taiji's face, and he whispered: "Great Khan, Liaoyang Town, we must save it, and besides, there is a Dolgon in the city." ”

Huang Taiji leaned back in his chair, and in his slightly closed eyes, a fine light suddenly flashed: "So, I plan to devote the strength of the whole country to the south in person." ”

"No," Dai Shan hurriedly said to stop: "Great Khan, now the Ming army's firearms are in an advantage, the trend of war, may not go according to our assumptions, the Great Khan must not be in danger, the Great Khan stays in Shengjing, is the only way to strategize." ”

"No, I have to go south in person," Huang Taiji ignored Dai Shan's opposition, "Now that rumors are spreading in Shengjing, I can only stop their mouths if I personally go south, can I gather the fighting power of the Jurchens, and dispel Shengjing's panic." ”

"Great Khan, it is precisely because of the instability of Shengjing that the Great Khan is needed!" Dai Shan also did not give an inch.

"Erchen is willing to go on the southern expedition on behalf of Ama to rescue Liaoyang City." Hauge stood up, looked at Huang Taiji nervously, and cast his eyes on Dai Shan again, obviously asking for help.

"You?" Huang Taiji pondered for a while, but still shook his head, "There are only fifty cattle records with yellow flags, and there are too few soldiers." ”

"Great Khan, the minister is willing to lead the red flag and help Hauge." Dai Shan also got up from his seat, he touched his chest with his right hand, and bowed to Huang Taiji.

"I'm relieved to have Big Baylor with me," Huang Taiji smiled reluctantly, and looked at Hauge: "Hauge, this time I will let you be the commander of the army, but you are still young, ask Da Baylor for advice on everything." ”

"Yes, Amma." The stone in Hauge's heart fell to the ground heavily.

"Take the red flag with you, Yue Tuo has recently fought against the Ming army, and he has a deeper understanding of the new firearms of the Ming army." Huang Taiji thought, this is the first time that Haoge has officially commanded so many Niu Lu, with the assistance of Dai Shan, there should be no major problems, the more people, the greater the possibility of winning.

"Yes, Great Khan." Yue Tuo originally wanted to excuse himself, the poisonous sores on his back were aching faintly, and he really didn't want to suffer from the fatigue of the pommel horse again, but Hauge was striving for meritorious service, and he couldn't hold back, so he had to take his life first.

"Great Khan, we all went to Liaoyang, what should Shengjing do? Let's let the red flag stay! Dai Shan knew that Yue Tuo's back hurt, and besides, he was not worried about the safety of Shengjing, which was the treasure of the Great Golden Kingdom - the storage place of gold, silver and jewelry.

Huang Taiji is also a little lonely, since the founding of the Dajin Kingdom, when has he ever worried about the safety of his national capital? He reluctantly raised his hand and waved it: "With me, Sheng Jing doesn't have to worry, besides, there are still fifty Niu Lu in Zhenghuangqi, and there is absolutely no problem with self-protection." ”

"Great Khan ......"

Huang Taiji stopped Dai Shan's speech: "Don't say it, it's so decided, the main force of the Ming army is now in Liaoyang, and your pressure is not light!" Big Belle, remember to remind Hauge from time to time that he was too young. ”

"The Great Khan can rest assured, and the ministers should do their best to assist Haoge and strive to relieve Liaoyang as soon as possible." Dai Shan's words changed, "Great Khan, there is also a Jianyì minister." ”

"Big Baylor has something to say, but it doesn't hurt to say it."

"Great Khan, this southern expedition, the time of the war, should not be too short, the soldiers can't always gnaw on beef jerky, therefore, the minister Jianyi, recruit a certain number of herdsmen with the army, so that the soldiers can eat fresh beef and mutton."

"Ginger is really old and spicy!" Huang Taiji's eyes lit up, and he quickly glanced at Haoge before he said to Dai Shan: "What Da Beile said is that you set off three days late, and I then requisitioned 100,000 herdsmen, and now that the grass has grown, they can graze with the army." ”

"Xie Da Khan is compassionate!" Acting for kindness is another gift.

"I will then crown Haoge as the generalissimo of the expedition to the south, and Da Baylor as the deputy marshal of the expedition, you go back and prepare first!"

"Yes, Great Khan." The three of them said goodbye to Huang Taiji and left the Great Palace.

When Huang Taiji dispatched troops in Shengjing, Azig on the north bank of the Taizi River was not like Hauge said, huddled on the north bank, living in fear.

The rangers had reported back, and they had found two places to cross the river.

One is upstream, the current is a little rapid, but the terrain on both sides of the bank is flat, the only thing that is a little uncertain is that the opposite bank is densely wooded, and I don't know if there is an ambush of the Ming army.

The other is sixty or seventy miles downstream, close to the confluence of the Taizi River and the Hunhe River, although the river is wide, the water flow is slow, and the terrain is also flat and open, but there is also a disadvantage here, that is, there are no woods nearby, and the cavalry cannot hide.

Azig personally compared the two river crossing points, and in the end, he chose the one downstream.

There were no woods to hide at this crossing point, which was fair to both sides, the Jurchens could not use the cover of the woods, and the Ming army could not ambush the ambushers.

Azig was frightened by the flood of the Taizi River, and the tricks of the Han people were too much to guard against, so he would rather choose a fair duel, although the Ming army was far more numerous than his cavalry.

At the second watch, Azig personally led the nine and a half Niu Lu around him, and secretly came out of the tent, in order to confuse the rangers that the Ming army might send, all the tents were not taken away, they were all according to the original appearance, tied on the outer edge of the river embankment, and there were a few tents, and there was a little glimmer of light.

The Jurchen cavalry removed the bell from the horse's neck, slowed down the horse, and ran downstream almost silently along the outer edge of the embankment.

At the fourth watch, Azig came to the downstream crossing point.

He settled down, carefully observed the mark of crossing the river, and after being sure that the mark was not wrong, he gave an order in a low voice: "Throw away a useless thing, just bring food, bows and arrows, and scimitars, try not to make a sound, after crossing the river, if there is any lack of supplies, we will ask the Ming army for it." ”

Jurchen soldiers began to launch from the beachhead.

The river water is very cold, at least five degrees lower than during the day, but it is already early summer in Liaodong, and the water temperature will not be much lower, and the Jurchens, who are used to the cold, feel like taking a warm bath.

Approaching 3,000 cavalry to cross the water, it is impossible not to make a sound, Azig has already prepared the soldiers, if they encounter an ambush of the Ming army, they must take advantage of the night to stick to it, and once they get close to the Ming army, they will use a scimitar to harvest the heads of the Ming army.

With the hand-to-hand combat ability of the Ming army, it is absolutely only the share of being slaughtered.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa......"

The sound of horses treading water was very harsh in the quiet of the night, and Azig was always on guard.

If the Ming army could expect him to cross the water here and attack again and a half, with his current strength, I am afraid that no soldier would be able to cross the river, and the soldiers would not be completely annihilated by the Ming army, which would be a great luck.

If he had escaped the Ming army and his soldiers had crossed the river and gone ashore, Azig would have absolutely believed in the combat effectiveness of the Jurchen cavalry on land.