Black clouds crush the city and want to destroy it, and it is very appropriate to use this sentence to describe the shape of the Manchu group at this time.

Jinzhou was defeated, and the door was opened. Not only was Shenyang under threat, but the Qing army group in Gaizhou was also in a dangerous situation.

Another enemy, the rebellious Mongol Chahar and other tribes, also became increasingly powerful, and their troops entered Tamari Ranch (now Zhangwu County) and fought again with the allied Mongol forces attached to the Qing Dynasty. As the main force of the Qing coalition army, the Horqin Left Wing Banner and the Tumut Department had already suffered heavy losses and could not withstand the onslaught of the troops led by Burni, while the Ongniut, Balin, and Zalut banners had already wavered, and when they saw that the defeat was decided, they immediately fled first, so that the Horqin Left Wing Banner and the Tumut Department were almost completely annihilated.

Subsequently, the banners of Onniut, Bahrain, and Zarut sent envoys to express their submission and obedience to Brni, and would also send troops to join the anti-Qing coalition army. Bulni readily promised, and there were thousands more Mongolian warriors under his command, and his courage became stronger, and he rested at the Tamari Ranch, clamoring to wash away the shame of his ancestors, and continue to march eastward, killing into Shenyang to snatch back the jade seal of the country.

In the face of the advance of the Ming army along the front line of Panshan, Tai'an, and Liaozhong, the Qing court seemed a little helpless. Although the Qing army in Jinzhou was not completely annihilated, the breakthrough route was Yizhou, Montenegro, and Xinmintun, and the remnants of the army were defeated, even if they were blocked before the Ming army, it was difficult to resist the sharp edge of the Ming army.

Even if the Qing army group in Gaizhou can get out of the battlefield, it will inevitably be forced by the Ming army in front of it, and may be able to barely hold Anshan and Liaoyang, but it is impossible to divide troops to block the other Ming army, and the threat of the flank cannot be lifted.

The defensive strength of Shenyang was only 5,000, and the garrison force from Shenyang to Jinzhou and Gaizhou was also extremely empty. Old and young men, plus strong women, can really turn the tide of the war. Blocking the advance of the Ming army?

Obviously, this situation was not new to the Manchus. When the Ming army forced into Beijing last year, it was almost like this, and it was indeed difficult to choose whether to hold on or retreat. However, the Manchus had plans to return to the state. While arguments are inevitable, backing down is still a strategy.

The key now was to withdraw as many of Gaizhou's troops as possible, which would be the armed forces on which the Manchus relied to support and deal with the Ming court. If the losses are too great, the form of retreating back to Jianzhou will be even more severe. Even if it is a plan to shrink back to Jianzhou, lengthen the supply line of the Ming army, and wait forbearance, it must have a certain strength as a guarantee.

In order to meet the retreat of the Gaizhou troops, the Qing army dispatched the largest number of troops from Shenyang. 5,000 men and horses responded to the south of Liaoyang and Anshan to ensure the safety of the rear road of the Gaizhou troops. As for the Ming army along the Liao River, it was estimated that the distance and the speed of the Ming army's march were not the most urgent, and they could only hope that the remnants of the army in Jinzhou would come back soon.

Retreating, retreating as safely as possible, suddenly became the top priority of the Qing army group in Gaizhou. It has also become the biggest challenge to test Zhuo Butai's ability. Quite simply, how to retreat in front of the enemy. It has always been a difficult question not to turn into defeat or retreat.

The Ming army in front of him obviously also got the information from Jinzhou, and immediately launched a diversion attack, trying to drag the Qing army and make it difficult for it to organize an orderly retreat.

In the case that the military strength has changed in tilt, the Ming army has made a force. Immediately, the Qing army felt struggling, the defensive line was constantly alarmed, the troops were overstretched, and they fell into a struggling support.

The loud noise continued, and solid artillery shells, explosive bombs, incendiary bombs, and poisonous smoke bombs fell intensively on the Qing army's positions. Dust and smoke were kicked up that obscured the sky. The heavy bombardment had been going on for some time, and the artillery of the Qing army was either destroyed or forced to move back to its position, and there was no artillery fire to return fire.

Shouts and whistles sounded, and a large number of Ming soldiers rose from their trenches, holding bayonets, rushed into the smoke of gunpowder that had not dispersed, and stepped on the Qing army's position.

The sound of firecrackers, explosions, the popping sound of swords entering the flesh, screams, shouts of killing, in this chaotic sound, blood and fire are flying, whether it is the southern soldiers or the northern soldiers, with their blood and lives to interpret the power of a nation's awakening. And the power that is aroused by this is so powerful that it makes the enemy tremble and make the enemy tremble.

With a burst of lead bullets, a roar of grenades, and a bloody bayonet, the Ming occupied the first trench and quickly attacked the second, and the artillery also moved forward to provide fire cover for the infantry. In such trench warfare, the Ming army had sharp weapons in close combat, grenade explosions, musket hits, and bayonet stabs, how could the Qing army resist it?

Breakthrough, breakthrough, the Ming army finally broke through the defensive positions of the Qing army and began to pursue the remnants of the enemy. Small squares gradually took shape, advancing in depth. The sound of platoon guns came one after another, and the Qing troops who came to block it were constantly shot and overturned, and the screams continued. In the midst of the screaming, the Tianwei cannon and the sky-bombarding cannon threw shells into the ranks of the Qing army, and the roar continued.

In the end, it is the strongest army! The pungent smell of gunsmoke mixed with the hot sun, as well as the smell of blood from time to time, was really choking. Hu Guozhu held a telescope in Yuan Rong's car, observing the battle situation, but his heart was shocked and admired.

The Shuo Army, born from the first division of the Shuo Army, was led by Wei Junzhong, fought in the south and the north, and made great achievements. Even after several replenishments, the combat effectiveness has not weakened, and the spirit of courage has penetrated into the bones. In addition, with the continuous strengthening of weapons and equipment and the systematization of military training, its combat strength has increased.

As for Wei Junzhong, even if Hu Guozhu is the deputy commander-in-chief of the Northeast Military Region, he does not dare to underestimate him. In terms of military exploits, people are well-known, and they are early from the dragon, and they are highly appreciated by the saints. Together with Li Sixing, the son of the Jin dynasty, and Ma Zide, the prince of Yiguo, he is known as the most promising young general. And their disadvantage is that they are young, in order to balance the relationship between all parties, they cannot suddenly rise to the top, but the real power of the leader is unshakable.

In another ten or eight years, it will be the world of their young people. Hu Guozhu is less than forty years old, although he is not old, but with these younger and more outstanding generals, he has to have the feeling that the back waves are pushing the front waves.

When Liangtun was breached, the Qing army in Gaizhou felt squeezed, and the Ming army could advance north from this breakthrough, either encircled in a roundabout way, or changed the direction of attack, and pressed the Qing army to the sea to the west.

The intentions of the Ming army were unclear, but in terms of action, the Qing army did not dare to delay any longer, abandon the car to protect the commander, or break the arm to survive. In short, if you are reluctant to give up part of the army now, the whole group is in danger of being destroyed.

"The enemy has abandoned the offensive to the south and even moved troops, while more and more Ming troops are coming in from Liangtun in the east." Zhuo Butai blushed and said in a low tone, "Whether it is to change the direction of the formation and want to press our army to the sea, or to continue to advance north and outflank our army's rear road, it is extremely dangerous. ”

The Ming army abandoned the front, right, the former front, and turned to the flank. However, it was impossible for the Qing army to launch an offensive on the front, and the attack was useless, so it could only sink deeper. Even if it goes all the way to Jinzhou and Lushun, what's the use, the Ming army is cut off on the back road, but it's just a closed door and a dog.

The generals of the Qing army were silent, and they all knew what Zhuo Butai was going to do next. It's just to find the unlucky ones to break off the rear cover, so that the army can retreat along the way. Of course, the result of this broken cover was that he would die under the onslaught of the superior Ming army.

Even if it is mostly cavalry, retreating is not an escape, everyone can ride on their horses and fly away. Should the supplies, grain and grass be destroyed, should the servants and miscellaneous soldiers be abandoned, and if they flee on light horses, will there be any supplies along the way? These are all questions, and they all need to be determined.

The safest way is naturally to send a force with the heart of fighting to the death, act as a rear cover, block the Ming army for a few days, and buy time for the army. But this mission is not only dangerous, but also requires a strong force. Since ancient times, in addition to luring the enemy, the strikers and defenders have basically been elite, and this has not changed to this day.

"Azigan, how many men do you still have?" Zhuo Butai sighed in his heart, these guys have long lost the martial arts of their ancestors, and none of them took the initiative to ask for help, so they had to name themselves.

Mei Ezhangjing Azigen smiled bitterly and said: "There were originally forty-six Niu Lu under the command of the last general, and they fought with the Ming army for several months, and there were three thousand six or seven hundred dead and wounded, and only less than one thousand were replenished, and now there are only about fourteen thousand left. ”

Seeing Zhuo Butai's gaze on him, Mel Zhangjing Shuoha hurriedly said: "The last general originally had forty-five Niu Lu, and the casualties were also very serious, especially the previous night attack, and now there are only more than 10,000 flags left. ”

Zhang Jing, Shi Xinzhu and others also reported the number of people in their headquarters one after another, and the total strength of the Qing army was less than 60,000, but this was the largest force of the Manchu Qing Dynasty now.

As for the Ming army in front of them, there are two armies of suppressing Shuo and excluding Shuo, cavalry divisions that have never been engaged in large-scale operations, naval divisions and marines, and independent divisions of recruits who have received news and are rushing from Fengcheng. In addition, the Ming army has been replenished continuously in several months of operations, and the Ming army has greatly surpassed the Qing army in terms of strength.

Zhuo Butai thought for a while, pointed to the map and said: "This is the route of our army's retreat, Dashiqiao, Haizhou, Anshan, Liaoyang...... These more than 60,000 people are the last capital of our Manchurians, and Ben Shuai must bring back as much as possible. But the enemy will definitely have to pursue relentlessly, which requires blocking troops, as long as the Ming army is blocked for two or three days, the large army and the enemy can distance themselves, with the enemy's infantry, it will be difficult to catch up. ”

"Shuoha." Zhuo Butai knew that time was pressing, and he didn't discuss with anyone much, so he directly ordered, "You take your headquarters to leave first tonight, build a position at the big stone bridge, and prepare to block it." ”

"The last will obey." Shuo Ha was in a complicated mood, it was good to retreat first, but the subsequent resistance made him feel helpless.

"Azgen, you lead your troops to counterattack tomorrow, make a decisive posture, and try to force the enemy to take a defensive position." Zhuo Butai continued: "Then, in the night, the whole army retreated, and Shi Xinzhu led the troops to break off. ”

Zhuo Butai's trick can be said to be not clever, just like the market makers in the stock market in later generations, when they want to get out of the stocks, they often pull up to attract buyers, so that they can be distributed smoothly. Defending is an offense, which is also a similar meaning, confusing and paralyzing the Ming army, and then trying to switch after taking a defensive position, it is bound to delay time. (To be continued......)