Early the next morning, Dengzhou Wharf became lively!

Two field infantry divisions, one cavalry division, four heavy artillery regiments...... Almost 25,000 soldiers, under the personal command of Wei Zheng, began to board the transport ship in an orderly manner.

In less than half a day, all 25,000 soldiers were ready to go! Then? Escorted by seventeen warships, they left the dock and headed for reinforcements in the direction of Liaodong.

At the same time, outside Chaoyang City, there were less than 30,000 elite officers and soldiers left, and they also began to retreat.

Looking at the imperial army leaving outside the city, the Chaoyang defenders, who had paid a heavy price in the battle for more than ten consecutive days, were directly on the top of the city, making deafening cheers, celebrating the hard-won victory in front of them and celebrating their survival in this bloody battle.

Of course, among all the soldiers defending the city, not all of them were covered with smiles.

Several cavalry divisions and regimental level officers led by Zhao Hu were also very excited about this hard-won victory. However, the excitement did not last long before it was overridden by doubts.

The 30,000 elites of the imperial court, who obviously occupy various advantages, why would they retreat at this time, and in this, will there be any ulterior secrets, or even a conspiracy against themselves.

I already knew that judging from the current form of the Chaoyang battlefield, as long as the imperial court officials and troops continued to attack Chaoyang City, the defenders of less than 3,000 people in Chaoyang would be attacked by the imperial court for five days at most.

Under such a good shape, the elite of the 30,000 officers and soldiers besieging Chaoyang actually retreated. This has to be suspicious.

Listen to the cheers that keep ringing around you. The deputy head of the regiment standing next to Zhao Hu? I couldn't help but speak: "Commander." What kind of hell do you think these officers and soldiers outside the city are thinking, are they really retreating, or are they a trap for us? ”

Zhao Hu shook his head and replied: "The specific situation is not clear to the general. However, I think that with the current situation of Chaoyang City, the official army wants to capture Chaoyang City. Destroy us, it will happen sooner or later, they don't have the need to spend so much effort to calculate us...... So, I think, is this retreat of the official army real? ”

"Not surprisingly, something must have happened to the imperial court that forced the officials and troops outside the city to retreat. But. All of this is my speculation. To know the real purpose of these officers and soldiers. There is only one way we can do it, and that is to wait. ”

"Wait ......" After listening to Zhao Hu's answer, the faces of several subordinates showed expressions of doubt from the heart. Then, he looked at Zhao Hu expectantly, waiting for Zhao Hu to give him an explanation.

Under the simultaneous gaze of several pairs of eyes, Zhao Hu nodded and affirmed: "Yes, just wait...... Since the officers and troops have retreated, then we will send reconnaissance cavalry to follow behind the officers and troops to see if this group of officers and troops is really going to retreat......"

However, before Zhao Hu's plan could start, he was interrupted by a report......

A company commander defending the city gate rushed to everyone with a face full of excitement and reported loudly: "Division commander, the imperial court, the imperial court sent someone to bring you a letter, and said that you can only read it alone......

As he spoke, the company commander handed a letter to Zhao Hu.

Just when Zhao Hu was caught off guard by the sudden change in front of him, the deputy division commander beside him subconsciously reminded.

"Division commander, be careful of poison, it's a conspiracy of the officers and soldiers outside the city......"

When he first heard this reminder, Zhao Hu was indeed worried. However, this worry only lasted for a blink of an eye, and it was covered with a smile. Or what I just said, with the current shape of Chaoyang City, there is no need for the official army to use such a big battle and spend so much effort to calculate themselves.

So, Zhao Hu directly shook his head, signaled his subordinates not to worry, then took the envelope and began to browse.

Before he finished reading it, a smile appeared on Zhao Hu's face. The deputy division commander standing beside him hurriedly asked with an anxious face: "Division commander, what is written in the letter?" Isn't that good news? ”

Zhao Hu nodded and affirmed: "You are right, it is indeed good news, and it is great news?" ”

"The 30,000 elite officers and soldiers surrounding us outside the city have really retreated, and it is not some conspiracy against us."

"As for the reason for their retreat, it is very simple, that is, to reinforce the capital...... Let's see, while the imperial court is using the Houjin and Joseon to calculate us, the Houjin Emperor Taiji is also taking advantage of this opportunity to calculate the imperial court......"

"Judging from the content of the letter, when the Later Jin Emperor Taiji sent troops to Liaodong, he also sent another army to attack the area of Zhili in the north. As I expected, this Houjin army has already invaded Beizhili. Otherwise, the imperial officers and troops who surrounded us would not have retreated in such a hurry, without even the slightest preparation. ”

In the face of this good news, the worries that have been buried in everyone's hearts have finally disappeared.

All the officers had a smile of joy on their faces. At this time, the deputy division commander spoke again: "This imperial court has not been able to live in peace all day long, and now, it has been calculated by the Later Golden Emperor Taiji, which is really happy." However, when they retreated, they even put us together and asked us to help them......"

"Division commander, the letter from the imperial court to us clearly states that they are really ready to retreat to Guannei, so that we can rest assured that we will boldly send troops to reinforce Liaoyang. In my eyes, the imperial court has only one purpose in doing this, that is, to let us drag Huang Taiji in Liaodong, so that they can fight against the Houjin army that has already entered the Northern Zhili. ”

"I don't know what you're going to do, Commander?"

As long as it is an individual, in the face of the two choices of life and death, he will not hesitate to choose life. The soldiers of the Haw Par Army, who had just experienced a bloody battle and had the surprise of the rest of their lives on their faces, were no exception.

Although everyone does not know the specific situation of Liaoyang City now, they still know the news of the siege of Liaoyang City by tens of thousands of Jin Tieqi and tens of thousands of Jinhan Eight Banners.

Although the combat effectiveness of the cavalry of the Tiger and Leopard Army is no longer the same. However, no matter how strong the combat strength is, there are only about 3,000 people. And then what about the Golden Iron Rider? But there are 30,000 people, and more importantly, these 30,000 post-gold iron cavalry, as well as tens of thousands of infantry, and dozens or hundreds of red-coated cannons to cover.

Fighting against such an enemy, if you defend the city, with the powerful muskets in your hands, there may be a possibility of a battle. However, if you fight a field battle with them, there will be only one result, that is, the golden iron cavalry behind you will be drowned in the wave of their charge, and will be eaten up by the rear golden iron cavalry.

Because, on the field battlefield, under the attack of the Houjin and red-coated cannons, the advantage of the musket in his hand was brought into play at all. The only thing that can be done is to engage in close combat with the Houjin Iron Cavalry.

Fighting at close quarters with the Houjin Tartars, who have ten times the strength and are very good at close combat, is no different from sending them to death.

Therefore, as soon as the deputy division commander Hua finished speaking, his subordinates once again shifted their attention to the division commander Zhao Hu and waited for Zhao Hu's decision. Of course, the excitement and smiles on his face were once again covered with anxiety and worry.

As the division commander, Zhao Hu certainly knows what everyone thinks.

After waving his hand and signaling that everyone didn't have to worry, Zhao Hu said directly: "Reinforcement of Liaoyang City, that's for sure." As a member of the Haw Par Army, we must not watch our comrades be wiped out by the Houjin Tartars. ”

Just when everyone's hearts sank, Zhao Hu changed his words and continued: "However, reinforcements are reinforcements, it does not mean that we are going to reinforce Liaoyang now, and we will go to the battlefield of Liaoyang to die. ”

"We all know the situation on the battlefield in Liaoyang. With our current strength to reinforce Liaoyang, not only will it not play much role in defending Liaoyang, but it will also be wiped out by the Houjin army in vain. ”

"Besides, according to the marshal's report, at the latest, the reinforcements under the commander's personal command will be able to come outside Liaoyang City. With the strength of the Liaoyang defenders, if you hold on for two more days, there will be absolutely no problem. Therefore, now we don't have that need at all, let's go to Liaoyang now to join in the fun, and go to die......"

After hearing Zhao Hu's answer, the nervousness and worry on everyone's faces were once again covered with smiles. Standing beside him, the deputy division commander breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, he subconsciously asked.

"Division commander, do you mean to say that we will garrison Chaoyang for repairs in the past few days, and when the reinforcements under the commander of the marshal arrive in Liaodong, we will go to Liaoyang with the marshal to reinforce Liaoyang and drive the Houjin Emperor Taiji out of Liaodong."

Zhao Hu shook his head and denied: "Of course not, the other tiger and leopard armies in Liaodong are still in dire straits, as comrades-in-arms, how can we stay here to rest and do nothing?" "Don't forget, in the entire territory of Liaodong, in addition to the fierce enemy of the Later Jin Emperor Taiji, we also have one enemy, that is, the Korean army. The North Korean army, which is backward in equipment and combat effectiveness is not worth mentioning at all. ”

"On the field battlefield, although we are not ten times the opponent of the Golden Iron Cavalry behind us. However, it was still easy to defeat the North Korean army, which had less than 20,000 troops, no, not even 15,000 troops. Therefore, although we do not go to reinforce Liaoyang, we will fight the Golden Emperor Taiji. However, we can go and fight the North Korean army. “

"Commander, what do you mean?" For the opponent of the North Korean army, the Haw Par Army really did not pay attention to it from top to bottom. Because, after Zhao Hu finished speaking, not only did everyone not show the slightest worried expression on their faces, but instead exuded a trace of heat outward.

Regarding everyone's reaction, Zhao Hu nodded with great satisfaction. Then he ordered loudly: "All the light and serious wounded, stay to defend the rising sun." In addition, leave the surplus muskets of our division and form a temporary garrison regiment. The rest of the soldiers, one man and two horses, went with me to fight the Korean army and wiped them out on the battlefield in Liaodong, and there was no return. (To be continued......)