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Cao Yue's analysis, although he did not convince all the generals to say that they were convinced, they also couldn't come up with a more sufficient reason to refute Cao Yue, and finally Cao Yue made a decision, with Liaocheng as the goal, besieged the city and sent reinforcements.

As long as Jiannu dares to send reinforcements, he will concentrate his efforts to eliminate the reinforcements. If Jiannu gives up Liaocheng and does not send reinforcements, then Liaocheng will be captured, and then Cangzhou, Dezhou, Jinanfu, Damingfu, and Tianjin Wei will be attacked, and this line will be recovered. If Jiannu has not made a bigger move, then consolidate in this area, do not act blindly, and continue the northern offensive after the military supplies arrive on this line.

"It is impossible for Jiannu to sit idly by and watch my Ming army hit the front line of Beizhili and Shanxi!" This is a point that Cao Yue and all the generals agree on.

At the end of June of the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the Northern Expeditionary Army of the Ming Dynasty led by Cao Yue totaled more than 60,000 people and arrived far away from Liaocheng.

Fearing that the Ming Northern Expeditionary Army would attack Beijing, Jiannu also reacted quickly, and Dolgon urgently recruited 50,000 Mongolian cavalry from Monan, quickly entered the pass, and dispatched 10,000 Jurchen Eight Banners from outside the pass to enter the pass. Subsequently, Dolgon left 20,000 Jurchen Eight Banners and 30,000 Mongolian Eight Banners, 20,000 Han troops, and 20,000 Korean troops stationed in Beijing, and personally led 20,000 Jurchen Eight Banners, nearly 100,000 Mongolian troops, and nearly 100,000 Han troops, Korean troops and former Ming troops to conquer Liaocheng in the south, preparing to fight to the death with the Ming army in Liaocheng.

Now that he saw through Cao Yue's plan, Dolgon decided not to recall Duoduo's men and horses, and personally led his army to the south to fight Cao Yue to the death.

Dolgon did not recall the army of Duoduo and Wu Sangui, and personally led the army south to rescue Liaocheng, and the main force of Jiannu was still fighting against the Liukou in Shaanxi, which was somewhat unexpected to Cao Yue. He also knew that Dolgon should have seen through his intentions, and did not intend to give the dying rogues a chance to survive, or to wipe out all Li Zicheng's men and horses and occupy the entire territory of Shaanxi. Dolgon personally led an army of more than 200,000 to the south to reinforce Liaocheng. It also shows another layer of surprise on Dolgon, who wants to use this battle to decide the fate of Jiannu and Daming.

For this reason, Cao Yue also immediately responded, he ordered Cao Jie's First Guards to speed up their actions and attack Jinan Mansion as soon as possible, without waiting for Liaocheng to be captured, and then besiege Jinan on both sides. At the same time, he ordered the follow-up men to hurry up and catch up with the rendezvous and prepare for a decisive battle with Jiannu on the front line of Liaocheng. Then order the first division of the navy to advance by sea and capture Tianjin Wei as soon as possible.

The number of Daming water masters that Cao Yue can master is not much, and now there are only more than 50,000 people. There were only more than 10,000 sailors with Cao Yue's Northern Expedition. There were 100 warships and transports of all kinds, including 18 large warships and 22 medium-sized warships equipped with artillery. At this time, Cao Yue regretted a little that he didn't bring more sailors, and he knew that the sailor warships that did not have to go ashore would be a sharp weapon to restrain the Jiannu cavalry.

The large naval division warships are equipped with the latest rifled guns, and the firing range can reach about five miles. In addition to large artillery, there were also various Franc cannons. This kind of artillery with a fast rate of fire, together with the musket, can form a tight network of fire, such a network of fire. For Jiannu, who is mainly equipped with cold weapons, it is almost difficult to surpass.

Cao Yue had temporarily given up taking the initiative to attack Liaocheng, and after he led his army to the front line of Liaocheng, he did not order to attack the city immediately. Instead, in the south of Liaocheng, fortifications were built, and a defense line was built relying on the canal. Prepare to take on Jiannu. He put his own line on the side of the canal, and in front of the line, he dug several very wide ditches and led the water of the canal into it. Behind it is a large battleship, which can be withdrawn to the battleship at any time if there is any accident. This battleship has a lookout platform more than ten meters high, this lookout platform is high, you can see the movement of Jiannu on the head of Liaocheng City, and the surrounding scenery of more than ten miles is also undoubtedly revealed under the telescope, this time it is the place where Cao Yue commanded the battle.

The five guards divisions that accompanied Cao Yue, except for Cao Jie's first guard division on the front line of Qingzhou, the rest of the men and horses would gather under Liaocheng before the arrival of the Jiannu army and set up a position. Each Guards Division had set up artillery and musket emplacements to prepare for the onslaught.

Cao Yue knew that if the Ming Guards took the initiative to attack, the advantage in equipment would not be obvious in the battle against Jiannu, who was almost entirely cavalry. After all, artillery and infantry armed with muskets could not maneuver quickly. But relying on the position, the combat effectiveness is completely different. He was ready to wait for Jiannu's active attack.

Cao Yue also knew that Jiannu would not fight a protracted war with the Ming army, and it was impossible for them to adopt the same strategy and wait for the Ming army to take the initiative to attack. The logistical supply of the Ming army is abundant, whether it is weapons, ammunition or food, it can be continuously transported through the canal. However, the Jiannu, who did not have enough food, had to transport everything they needed from the Beijing area, and even if they collected grain on the spot, they could not meet the needs of more than 200,000 soldiers. Therefore, it must be the Jiannu who can't afford it, not the Ming army.

Cao Yue's strategy of waiting for work at ease was recognized by Huang Degong, Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo, and those generals under their command, such as Li Benshen, Wu Shengzhao, Gao Jinku, Li Chengdong, Liu Konghe, Liu Hongji, and Li Huajing, who were temporarily deprived of their qualifications to lead the army and only watched the battle as staff officers. Cao Yue's deployment was orderly and well-planned, which is what a qualified commander should have.

Although the war did not start, Cao Yue's ability was recognized by them, of course, this was affected by Cao Yue's previous victories, but if Cao Yue's strategy was not so orderly, then these old fritters in the army would definitely look down on Cao Yue.

Huang Degong praised Cao Yue's views in front of all the generals: he said: "It is an excellent strategy for the Metropolitan Governor to build deep ditches and high fortresses and fight a war of attrition with Jiannu. There are many soldiers who build slaves, and the amount of grain and grass consumed every day is huge. As long as time passes, they will not be able to hold on, and they may collapse without a fight. At that time, the opportunity for our Ming army to take the initiative to attack will come. ”

Among these former Ming generals and their subordinates who were controlled by Cao Yue, Huang Degong was the most sensible one.

Originally, he admired Cao Yue's personality and military exploits, and after the imperial court ordered several of their generals with heavy troops to serve in Beijing, he was the first to respond. However, Huang Degong supported Cao Yue, and some people felt that this was a sycophant, in order to want Cao Yue's credit and reuse.

But Huang Degong didn't think so, he was an upright person, and he felt that Cao Yue's strategy was correct, so he expressed his support in public. Of course, he also has his own selfishness, as a general, leading the army to fight is an eternal dream, not to mention seeing the current Ming Guards so neat, so well-equipped, Huang Degong, who has been fighting on horseback all his life, of course he wants to lead again.

He knew that only by getting Cao Yue's appreciation could he get another chance to lead the army to fight. Therefore, whether in public or in private, he expressed absolute obedience to Cao Yue. (To be continued.) )