Cultivation in spring and harvest in autumn have always been used as a means of consumption in military terms. However, the Ming army launched a large-scale counteroffensive in the autumn of the seventeenth year of Yongli (the second year of Kangxi), from northern Sichuan, Lianghuai to Shandong, and then to Liaodong, the beacon fire was rekindled and more intense.

The expeditionary army was dispatched from Zhenjiang and advanced along the west bank of the canal along the northern expedition of Emperor Gao; The Dangshuo army attacked from Nantong to the west, and swirled north on the east bank of the canal, forming a situation in which the two armies echoed across the canal and continued to advance northward.

The exterminating army went out of Wuhu, and the Sushuo army came out from Jiujiang, and the spearhead of the attack of the two armies was directed at the important town of Hefei; The main force of the Fashuo army was dispatched from Xiangyang to make a gesture of entering Henan.

After receiving reinforcements from the Poshuo Army, the Shandong battlefield began to launch a major operation. The Shuo army forced Zichuan (now Zibo) from Weixian (now Weifang) and threatened the provincial capital Jinan; The main force of the Poshuo army set out from Jimo and marched to Yizhou (Linyi).

The opening up of the Liaodong battlefield began with the reoccupation of Phi Island by the Ming army's naval divisions. In fact, it was said to be an occupation, but it was not fought, because there was no one on the island, so it can be said that it was an easy landing.

Phi Island, in the east of the Yalu River estuary, is also known as the Dongjiang River. Fifteen miles from east to west and ten miles from north to south, Phi Island is not big. However, Phi Island is located between Denglai, Liaodong and North Korea, and the sea surface on the north shore is 80 miles to the boundary of Liaodong, and the location is urgent.

On the third day of landing on Phi Island, the Shandong Independent Division, which had replenished the 3,000-strong Poshuo Army, sailed north along the Yalu River with 6,000 men on ships, landed on the land of Liaodong in Changshan Town, and swept away the Manchu "Land of Longxing" that was empty for defense. Within five days, he successively occupied Qianyang, Anmin, Tongxing and other towns, and broke through Zhenjiang (now Dandong City, Liaoning Province), killing hundreds of Qing troops before and after.

The Manchus were shocked by the extent with which a decisive battle unfolded from east to west, from land to coast.

In fact, the Manchu Qing had long expected such a day, when they would fight with the Ming army in the south. The Qing court also learned more or less about some of the operational characteristics of the Ming army. Chief among them was the Ming army's dependence on war materiel, which prevented the Ming army from conducting strategic operations continuously. That is to say, after every major military operation of the Ming army, it always had to rest for a period of time, not because of the fatigue of the personnel, but because the production of materials could not keep up with the speed of consumption.

And the Ming army was also aware of the logistical pressure brought about by the re-outfitting of equipment. So produce, hoard, buy as much as possible, and try not to use all the military power as much as possible. Either there is a containment and a main attack, or a fierce offensive is launched in a local area, in short, it is to make up for its weaknesses as much as possible.

After the recovery of the south of the river, the Qing court expected that the Ming army would have to recuperate for a long time, or that it could only choose an offensive in a certain direction, rather than the current full-scale outbreak.

Of course, according to the expected hoarding plan, the Ming army would have at least another three or four months before a full-scale offensive. This is also one of the theoretical bases for deciding on next spring's action in the original plan. However, the plan could not catch up with the changes, the Ryukyus were reassigned to the vassal states, the superiority of manpower and material resources in Jiangnan, the over-completion of the fund-raising and payment of salaries, the military materials imported by Britain and France, and the expansion of production in various arsenals and Macao artillery factories made the hoarding far faster than expected, and also enabled the Ming army to have the conditions for a full-scale launch.

And the Manchu Qing although anticipating the great counteroffensive of the Ming army. But they did not dare to take the initiative to shrink the line of defense, and did not dare to show weakness and cowardice. Because it's not just a matter of morale. There is also a deeper level of political considerations.

Since the Manchu Qing Dynasty sealed the prince of the Han people and implemented the strategy of "using Han to control Han", what he tried his best to cover up was the color of the Eight Banners. What is "invincible", what is "not afraid of the Han army, afraid of the Eight Banners", you can see it when you open the history books. After entering the customs, how many brilliant victories did the real Eight Banners Army achieve? Almost nothing, but Prince Nikan was killed by Li Dingguo in Hengyang, and the Eight Banners led by him were defeated.

is relying on the previous prestige, as well as boasting and domineering. The Manchu Qing Dynasty used the Eight Banners Army, which numbered only tens of thousands, to deter or coerce a large number of Han people to support the Qing Dynasty and won the world. Pulling the tiger's skin as a banner is naturally a fact that should be kept secret and tried to cover up.

Therefore, if the Manchu Qing Dynasty wanted to maintain the hearts of the people and ensure that the Han people, who far outnumbered the Eight Banners, supported the Qing armed forces, they must continue to hold on. It is unlikely that Jiangnan will be recaptured, so the division of the north and south can also enable the Han army and the green battalion to continue to serve and continue to contribute, right?

Retreating without a fight, a situation of collapse for thousands of miles can not appear, this is a poison for the Manchu Qing Dynasty, even if it is to drink to quench thirst, it cannot fall off the shelf, and it is necessary to continue to show the strength and appearance of being able to compete with the Ming Dynasty.

Avoiding exposing the essence of weakness became the fatal point of the weakness of the Manchus. Even if they know that it is difficult to compete with the rising Ming Dynasty in terms of troops and resources, even if they are already very difficult to support such a large stall in the north, even if they are fully mobilized, it will not exceed 100,000 Manchurians in armor, and even if they are extremely embarrassed in domestic and foreign affairs, they still have to hold on.

In fact, the weakness and decline of the Manchu Qing could not be concealed. Not only Zhu Yongxing can see it clearly, but the Mongol tribes that once had a bandit group with the Manchu Qing will gradually become aware of it. Grain, salt, silk, cotton, ironware, porcelain, etc., are becoming less and less available for entrapment and purchase, will the Mongol tribes help the Manchus to fight again?

Not only are the Mongol tribes gradually retreating from the sidelines, but the green battalion generals and Han Chinese officials also seem to have other plans. Before the counteroffensive, letters in collusion with the Ming Dynasty were often exposed, and from time to time there were plausible signs of rebellion.

Divisive schemes, counter-plots, and those who have seen the art of war know it, but how many people are actually fooled? It is very necessary to believe in what it has, not to believe in it, and to prevent problems before they happen, in a stormy environment.

Of course, the Qing court was not stupid enough to kill, but adopted a roundabout strategy to solve the problem. Like transferring, promoting, and bringing the Han officials and generals and their families who they suspect and have no definite evidence to the Beijing Division, and giving them idle positions, saying that they are offerings, but rather that they are being monitored nearby.

Whatever the means, internal chaos is inevitable. The rabbit died and the fox was sad, how many people were resentful because of this, and secretly prepared to rebel, but it could only be revealed later.

It can be said that the Ming army's counteroffensive was somewhat unexpected by the Qing court in terms of scale and time. In particular, if the echoing attacks of Jianghuai and Shandong were not dealt with in time, the Qing army in Jianghuai would be cut off from retreating and repeat the mistakes of the Qing army in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

However, the strength of the Ming army in Shandong far exceeded the reinforcements that the Qing court could urgently draw, so the Qing court had to make the decision to abandon Jianghuai and retreat across the Yellow River. The withdrawal of the Qing army in Jianghuai and the strengthening of Shandong will not only prevent it from being strategically encircled again, but also prevent the two Ming armies from meeting the north and south at the canal.

Jianghuai was going to give up, but unfortunately it didn't change to a little place in Shandong. In order to continue to cover up, the Qing court claimed that the withdrawal of the Yellow River was the result of "peace negotiations", while the Ming Dynasty did not keep its promises and had no faith, and forcibly occupied Jiaodong, which was to be returned in the agreement.

Well, that's a fig leaf, right? It's better to be deceived than to be irresistible and have no choice but to retreat.

…………

Autumn is cool in August, and the weather is exceptionally refreshing. The waves tumbled and crashed against the reef, whipping up spray and foam.

Bear slowly retreated, the tide still soaking his feet, and he smiled disapprovingly, turned and walked back to the officers.

"Guogong, Yu Qi hopes to increase the number of troops in Liaodong again." Chen Fenglin, a staff officer, stepped forward and said: "I think that Shandong should be the most important, and Liaodong can be relieved. ”

Troops, horses, and materials should be deployed in two directions, and it is natural to dispute which is more important than the other. For now, it seems that Shandong is more important. And Liaodong, although there is a naval division connected, one more soldier will require one more supply, which is a burden for Chen Fenglin and others.

"Shandong and Liaodong are the first theater of operations, and there will not only be two armies, but also an army formed by Shandong soldiers, and the newly formed Denglai Liaoshui Division, which can be described as strong and strong." Pi Xiong pointed to the sea and said loudly: "Shandong and Liaodong are going together, both echoing and cooperating, to see the overall situation of the entire north, we must not treat Liaodong as a burden." ”

After a pause, Skin Bear said again: "Of course, another increase in troops can slow down for a while, and I will explain this to Yu Qi, so as not to chill his enterprising spirit." ”

"Guogong, I heard that Long Live intends to go to Shandong in person? I don't know if it's true or not? Staff Officer Gao Cen showed an eager expression and inquired tentatively.

"The body of the saint is ten thousand gold, how can he lightly get involved in the battle array?" Leather Bear arched his hand to the south and said with a smile: "Even if the Holy Lord is interested, the ministers will not agree. Moreover, this time is different from the past, if the Holy Emperor is still needed to drive in person, then where is the face of the generals? ”

"The climate in the Northland is cold, and in winter, I'm afraid our army will be a little uncomfortable, right?" Chen Fenglin said worriedly: "Most of the troops in the general army are Shandong soldiers, but it is a pity that it is difficult to transfer them back in Liaodong. ”

"When Emperor Gao went on a northern expedition to destroy the Yuan, most of the generals he led were southerners." Skin Bear glanced at Chen Fenglin with some displeasure, and said: "The Holy Lord must have expected that all the materials needed for the battle in the northern land will not let the soldiers suffer from freezing and hunger, so we just need to fight with peace of mind." After the Jianghuai Qing army withdrew across the Yellow River, the number of enemies we had to deal with increased greatly and should not be overlooked. ”

"The Qing army is unstable and poorly equipped, and two armies are enough to defeat them." Gao Cen sneered and said: "If we can conquer Yizhou or Jinan before the Jianghuai Qing army arrives, then Shandong will be in a certain situation, or we can directly take the Beijing Division!" ”

"The Holy One shouldn't be so aggressive." Of course, Pi Xiong hoped to achieve greater results, but he also knew the prudent strategy formulated by the General Staff, and he was not impatient or impatient, and tried his best to consume the strength of the Qing army in the north, so as to create more favorable conditions for the conquest of Liaodong. (To be continued......)