On the road, in the ditch, and on the river, there were advancing men and horses, infantry, artillery, and cavalry, noisy and noisy, rushing towards the land of Liaozhong.

Soldiers shouted slogans, brandished their guns, dragged mules and horses that refused to go, and poured up the branch-paved road with a crackling sound. The mules and horses gasped and dragged the gun carriage with the artillery men beside them. Scout cavalry squads ran past the ranks of the troops, their hooves rattling.

Jinzhou, although it failed to annihilate the main force of the Qing army, the road to the Liaozhong Plain was opened. The Dangshuo army joined forces with the landed reinforcements, continued to advance eastward, lightly captured Guangning County (now Panshan County), and controlled the mouth of the Liao River. Subsequently, the army advanced by land and water, and marched northward. Shenyang, it seems, has become the next target.

Yes, the Dangshuo Army did not continue to advance eastward, and the main force of the Northeast Military Region flanked the Qing army group in Gaizhou, but the posture it made was both a threat to Shenyang and a larger roundabout encirclement. Whether it is to recover Tai'an County, and then take Anshan in the east; Or hit Liaozhong County, and then turn to attack Liaoyang, the retreat of the Qing army group in Gaizhou will be cut off.

If the Dangshuo army is advancing for such a long time, will there be any worries about being retreated by the Qing army in Gaizhou and then turning west and cutting off the grain route? This situation exists in theory, but in practice it is never possible. Unless the Qing army in Gaizhou can defeat the hundreds of thousands of troops of the Northeast Military Region in front of them, so that it has no ability to pursue. Otherwise, they could only be constantly retreated by the Ming army of the Northeast Military Region, retreating through Anshan, Liaoyang, and even directly to Shenyang.

Judging from the present, the Qing army group in Gaizhou has been exhausted in two or three months under the condition of insufficient replenishment, and it is a fluke not to be defeated by the Ming army in the front, how can it still have the ability to break one side first, and then flank the other side.

And the Ming army also saw through the lack of troops of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. It also relied on the combat strength of tens of thousands of troops to dare to advance proudly and force the enemy with momentum. At the same time, the quick communication through the Guò sea route, the Ming army groups around Gaizhou will also take corresponding military actions, or take the initiative to attack and stick to the Qing army. or draw mobile forces to bravely pursue the enemy while he is retreating.

"The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and it's just right for the southern soldiers to fight!" Xia Guoxiang rode on the horse, unbuttoned his clothes, and raised his whip in high spirits, "Don't look big, but your endurance is something to be proud of." ”

"This is a biased statement, can't the northern soldiers travel long distances?" Wei Pu shook his head in disagreement, "More than a hundred miles." If you travel lightly, one day and one night is enough. ”

"That's what I thought." Xia Guoxiang smiled bitterly and said: "But in the current situation, there is no doubt about victory, if it is because of greed and then defeat, then the government and the opposition will be shaken, and they can all be killed." ”

"It's said that it can be killed, but this reputation is ruined." Wei Pu understands Xia Guoxiang's distress very well. If you are at a disadvantage, you will be defeated. But the Ming army has always been oppressive with power, not fighting uncertain battles, and under repeated victories, a news of defeat suddenly appeared, which was indeed too conspicuous.

"The Tartars no longer have the heart to fight to the death, and they have lost such an opportunity." Xia Guoxiang said with some disdain: "Pampered in the Central Plains." Eight Banners, how quickly you are degenerate and corrupted! At this point, from the emperor, to the ministers, to the people. They all hope to win this battle steadily and without twists and turns. So, let's be conservative and not take risks. ”

"That's true." Wei Pu was a little unwilling, but he also had to nod yes, groaned for a while, and said: "Steadily recover the lost territory in Liaodong, and the emperor's heart will be temporarily settled." I estimate that most of them will have to be attrition and blockade, and if we continue to advance north, the logistical pressure will be too great. ”

"It is necessary to operate a lot, so that we can have the strength to plough the court and sweep away the remnants." Xia Guoxiang stretched out his whip and pointed to the Liao River in the distance, and said: "Without the benefit of the sailor, this battle is not easy to fight just by land transportation." I estimate that the first is attrition and blockade, the second is the large-scale training of cavalry, and finally the thunderous blow. ”

"Cavalry should indeed be the main force in future battles." Wei Pu nodded in agreement, "Whether it's a hussar or a dragoon, if there are tens of thousands of riders, the Tartars can't run away as lightly as they do now." ”

"Yes, the infantry fights the cavalry, and if you lose, the whole army will be annihilated, and if you win, you can't catch up." Xia Guoxiang was also very helpless, "Actually, it's good that the infantry can fight the cavalry like it is now." ”

"I heard that after Dingliao, the troops in the northeast will be reorganized, I don't know what it will look like?" Wei Pu felt that Xia Guoxiang should know more than himself.

"The Ministry of War is still discussing and has not yet made a final decision." Xia Guoxiang paused and said: "It is also to adapt to the battle in Liaodong, and adjustments must be made according to the situation of the Tartars." It was probably to be organized into a mixed brigade, with a complete range of infantry, artillery, cavalry, and baggage arms, and about 8,000 to 10,000 soldiers, capable of attacking and fighting independently. ”

Wei Pu thought for a moment and said, "To recover the lost territory in Liaodong, it is natural to divide troops and garrison them. This mixed brigade is smaller than the division, so it can defend a few more points. In addition, if you take turns to attack, even if you retreat in the face of a strong enemy, it will make the Tartars tired and defend in all directions, not rest. ”

"Yes, that's what the military department has in mind." Xia Guoxiang nodded and agreed with Wei Pu's analysis, "It is also a good strategy to run Liaodong while harassing and consuming the Tartars, and to train the army in turns." ”

"I wonder if the Dangshuo Army is adapted from this?" Wei Pu said with some concern: "I don't know if the Dangshuo Army will eventually belong to the Beijing Military Region or the Northeast Military Region." I heard that the Holy Lord was going to establish a military committee, and His Royal Highness Wei had the idea of retreating bravely on weekdays, if he joined the military department this time, who would take over the supreme commander of the Beijing Military Region? ”

"His Royal Highness Wei should not leave the Beijing Military Region for the time being, after all, he is a saint and respectful, how can there be no henchmen and generals to lead the army in the land of Jifu?" Xia Guoxiang shook his head and said: "The Northeast Military Region will definitely be handsome, His Royal Highness Pi is old, and he will definitely be transferred back to Rongyang after Dingliao." So—"

Hu Guozhu is now the deputy commander-in-chief of the Northeast Military Region, and if Pi Xiong is transferred, he is very likely to succeed him. But if the Dangshuo Army belongs to the Northeast Military Region, Xia Guoxiang's arrangement will be a little troublesome. It stands to reason that his rank is higher than that of Hu Guozhu, and Hu Guozhu was also transferred from the Dangshuo Army, and he was his general, so it was obviously unreasonable for him to deign to obey orders.

Moreover, Xia Guoxiang and Hu Guozhu are both in-laws and from the same line, and he must not say anything about fighting for power and position in front of Wei Pu. (To be continued......)