The east is mountainous, Siping is located in the hinterland of the Songliao Plain, and not far to the west is the Inner Mongolia Korbi Grassland.

Naturally, Dolgon, Zilharang and others did not dare to enter Mongolia, although they had an extremely close relationship with the Korbi Mongols, but at this moment, the marriage relationship was worthless in the face of politics and interests. It is estimated that the Kormi people are not in a hurry to hide from the Ming army, and as for taking in the Qing royal family, I am afraid that it is a move to provoke fire, and the Mongols can no longer be trusted.

The Qing royal family was very miserable, they continued to run wildly, and Zhou Huchen's cavalry chased unhurriedly behind them, like kraft candy, which would always make these Qing nobles tremble from time to time.

With a beautiful mood, Zhou Huchen entered Siping.

Two hundred miles ahead is its Tamuwei, Yidong Hewei, Mugu Hewei (near Changchun), in the early days of the establishment of the Later Jinjian, here is the fief of the former banner of the Mongolian Guoluos Zha Sak Auxiliary Prince. After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the policy of banning remote areas in the northeast has been implemented, and the vicinity of Changchun is actually a demarcation ridge of banning.

In fact, the title of the Northeast land in the Ming Dynasty only reached the south of Changchun, and the Ming court divided many commanders and guards is a symbol. For the people of the Central Plains, this is a barren land, and they basically don't care.

After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, in fact, it also began to implement border migration, which also played a positive role in national defense. It is precisely for this reason that after the establishment of the Later Jin, in order to prevent further sinicization of the Northeast, the Ming court was prevented from immigrating to the Northeast in large numbers. Real immigration began in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, which was greatly contributed by the Beiyang government, especially the Zhang father and son (Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang). By the mid-20s. Zhang's father and son implemented the policy of "reorganizing the army and making great efforts to make the country prosperous", opened mines, built railways, built banks, ran schools, and actively reclaimed the army in North Manchuria (Heilongjiang), and later the experience of the Northeast military reclamation was fully absorbed by Chairman Mao.

It was already the end of July, there was a slight coolness in the northern land, and there was still the shadow of the Jianzhou nobles fleeing ahead, and the cavalry of the Ming army was always chasing these escapees unhurriedly, and there were too many nobles in the Qing court, too many women and children. Plus multi-day travel. It's noticeably slow. Fortunately, the Ming cavalry was not chasing too urgently, so that these Qing nobles still had the motivation to escape.

In Changchun, 700 miles further north is Fuyuwei (Qiqihar), which is the territory of Wuliangha, so naturally you can't go. The goal of Dolgon and the others was the ice city of Aluwei (Harbin) to the northeast. Because Aruwei also has a Jianzhou Mel Zhangjing. Gushan shellfish. Forehead Balb.

Balbu was an old man of the Eight Banners, and his father was an old man under Nurhachi, who was very trusted. Therefore, the town has been guarded in Aruwei for generations. Aluwei was once the territory of the Haixi Jurchens, so Balbu was actually equal to the later Heilongjiang general, with the difference that his permanent residence had not yet been moved to Fuyuwei.

The jurisdiction of Balbe extends to the boundary of 2,200 li of the Erbaik River in the east, the boundary of the Chenhan in the west of the Khalkha River of more than 900 li, the boundary of the Songhua River in the south of the 500 li Ningguta boundary, the north to the outer Xing'an Mountains more than 3,300 li, and the southwest to the vicinity of Shengjing, so it can be said that the jurisdiction is very large.

Most importantly, in addition to managing military and political affairs and flag affairs, Balbu was also in charge of local civil affairs, civil and criminal affairs, and other matters. He was to be in charge of the Eight Banners garrison, the sailor battalion, the firearms battalion, the Yamen, the chief of the Ula Fighting Beasts, and the Eight Banners official school. In civil affairs, there are printing rooms, silver warehouses, criminal divisions, household divisions, military divisions, industrial divisions and other institutions. In fact, Balbu is equal to the role of a prince, but the role of this prince belongs to the most loyal one.

It was the rainy season, and the annoying rain caused trouble for Zhou Huchen's army.

It was already not far from Aruwei and found the Jiannu scouts, ahead of which was a tributary of the Songhua River, and as the rain became heavier, the baggage and roads, coupled with the mud, made Zhou Huchen's army have to stop.

There is a village ahead, this village is called Linzi Town, and there are dozens of families in the town, but due to the arrival of the army, there are only some old people left in this town who can't run.

Just taking the opportunity to rest, Zhou Huchen's army began to camp at the edge of the village.

"Shuai, guess who I found?"

The big tent of the Chinese army was about to be set up, and Zhou Huchen looked at the rain scene in front of him in a silent daze, and then Gao Qiang ran over excitedly.

"Which? Don't say it's a blessing, it's impossible, and it won't be left to us if it's dead and buried. ”

Gao Qiang smiled and said, "A high-ranking official, a demoted official at the level of a superintendent." ”

"At the level of the superintendent, it's Hong Chengchou, right?" Zhou Huchen couldn't think of anyone else who was brought out by Jiannu at the level of a superintendent, in fact, he only remembered Hong Chengchou who was famous.

"The handsome can pinch and calculate, it is this Hong Chengchou, but this old man is not good, he is angry in the village, do you want to see it?"

"Hey, why be a thief! The first emperor was benevolent and righteous to him, why should I bother to see that ugly face! ”

Zhou Huchen sighed, Hong Chengchou can be said to be a handsome man for a while, but unfortunately his bones are too soft, and now he has been running for nearly a thousand miles in a row, and it is estimated that he was thrown here by Jiannu because he couldn't run.

Gao Qiang smiled and asked, "How to deal with that?" Do you want to cut it? ”

"It's also a burden to keep it, if you don't die on the day of the camp, give him a good time, and then report to the court, so be it."

With a promise, Gao Qiang was about to turn around and leave, but Zhou Huchen shouted to him again: "General Gao, please notify the generals above the guerrilla attack by the way, and let them come to my Chinese army tent to discuss matters." ”

"Remember for me, the slave chiefs and nobles of Jiannu are all immortal Xiaoqiang, when did I not say that I would never be able to catch them all, do you remember them?"

"Dashuai, what is Xiaoqiang?" Zheng Sen is indispensable in the military discussion, and he can't remember who this Xiaoqiang is.

"Oh, rats, you know? Jiannu is like a rat that can never be caught, although it is small, it will always resurge, this is Xiaoqiang. Zhou Huchen really can't explain it, people in this era probably don't know cockroaches, and Xiaoqiang can only use mice instead.

Zheng Sen smiled: "I understand, that is to say, Jiannu and these little strongmen will never be killed, they can't be chased, and they won't be reported after they are killed, so we have an excuse to use troops in the north." ”

Masami is smart. What he said was right, but Zhou Huchen didn't say it himself, he quickly changed the topic: "General Gao will let those guides come to my camp in a while, and Zhao Garrison will contact the logistics army behind him, and then send some supplies, remember to bring winter clothes, it will be cold soon." Mr. Mo, you are responsible for sending people back to Shenyang, bringing more Han people near Shenyang to settle down, and we will build some military camps here, and the land will be calculated according to the population. 100 acres per person. Under the age of 10 halved, we provide agricultural tools and livestock, the more people the better, and slowly advance northward. The detailed plan is in the Yan Shuban there. Think for yourselves. If you have any difficulties, please consult me. ”

The people who were named responded one after another, and everyone knew that Zhou Huchen was going to move the people and use the devouring policy, and slowly devoured the northern land with the number of people. Let the fertile land here become the de facto control area of the Ming Dynasty. The people are the foundation of the place, as long as people continue to move over, the population reaches a certain number, and the military deterrence, the northern land will be stable, and over time, a stable north will make the Guannai more stable.

Population is the best way to control the place, in the past Nurhachi massacre a large number of Han people in Liaodong is because of the problem of population, although the later Huang Taiji changed this cruel policy, but the massacre is still intermittent, and the well-intentioned policy of reducing the Mongols has always been a major policy of the Qing court, in real history, this policy of reducing the Ding has continued until the end of the Qing Dynasty before the final end.

Zhou Huchen was arranging how to completely incorporate the northern land, and on the side of Dolgon, who was in Aruwei, there was a disagreement.

Balbu did not agree to continue northward, because there was too much developed farmland in the nearby territory, and since Balb's father had been cultivating desolate land in Aruwei, it can be said that these lands were the most food producers in the vicinity, and the north was already sparsely populated, and if he gave up these lands and people, Balbu would have lost everything. The people depend on food, and Balbu has to rely on the food produced in these lands to feed the soldiers, and he has to rely on the people to maintain his rights, how can he give up so easily.

"Regent, I can gather 20,000 brave Jurchen soldiers in my hands, these soldiers are the bravest soldiers of my Qing Dynasty, the regent, and I will fight at the end." Balbu was indeed able to gather 20,000 soldiers, because when the Qing court entered the customs to draw Ding, due to special reasons, Aruwei did not draw many people. These 20,000 soldiers can be said to be the most powerful soldiers, because most of them are wild Jurchens, and they are not afraid of life and death at all.

"This king knows, but Balbu, hundreds of thousands of soldiers of my Qing Dynasty have been defeated in the hands of Zhou Huchen, including those strongest Jianzhou warriors. You have been to Shenyang, you should know the bravery of our Jianzhou people, how thick the city of Shenyang is, you also know that the Ming army is a firearms army, how can the stockade here compare with Shenyang? How does the number of soldiers compare to when they entered the customs? How does it compare with Shenyang? ”

Now is not the past, if it was before, just give a direct order, now is an extraordinary time, Zilharan and Dorgon can only show their strength to persuade Balb.

"Regent, if you continue to retreat north, there are barren lands and mountains, how can so many people live? What should I do after winter? Will we live in the far north in the future? Living in the mountains and forests? ”

"It can only be expedient for a while, in the future, the Ming army will definitely have to withdraw, the Ming people can't adapt to the cold here, in the future, this will still be our Jurchen world, we will be strong, the Han people don't have a famous saying called lying on the salary to taste the gall? We can also try our back. "Zilharang is bitter, Balb's liliang is said to be a reliable Liliang of the Jurchen Zuihou, and it is a pity to lose it here.

"If the regent goes to Aihui (Heihe), it is not impossible, his subordinates are responsible for breaking off, set up a defense line in the north of the river, destroy the bridge, and prevent the Ming army from crossing the river, if the Ming army forcibly builds a bridge to cross the river, his subordinates will fight to the death with the Ming army." Balbu finally compromised, he was a loyal general of the Qing Dynasty after all, but at the same time, he did not seem to give up the idea of a war.

Zilharang was silent, and at this time, Dolgon, who had not spoken, spoke: "It's okay, after Balbu's forehead is broken, but let the people under his jurisdiction move north, so as not to be poisoned by the Ming army." In addition, you must remember not to fight, the firearms of the Ming army are extremely sharp, once you cross the river, it is difficult to resist, if you are not the enemy, evacuate quickly. ”

Zilharang on the side let out a long breath, because he knew the difficulty of crossing the Songhua River, if there was no bridge, it would be almost impossible to cross such a wide rapids in this season, because the Ming army had no boats. Therefore, the remnants of the Qing Dynasty will be temporarily safe, and Balbu is not so much able to hold the Songhua River as to be left to guard the riverbank, as long as a little attention, it is impossible for the Ming army to cross the river.

"The last will obey."

Balbu understood what Dolgon meant, evacuating the people was not allowing the Ming army to get supplies, and wanted to make it more difficult for the Ming army to pursue and make them withdraw as soon as possible, which was the most important strategy. As for the sharpness of firearms, this seems to be a legend, Balb has seen a lot of firearms, except for the artillery is more powerful, other firearms do not seem to be powerful, in his consciousness, the Ming army's firearms are not as good as bows and arrows, and in terms of the Ming army's long journey, how to bring artillery, what is terrible? .

(To be continued......) (To be continued......)