Yuan Chonghuan was imprisoned in Xishi, and his brother's wife was exiled for 3,000 miles, and the family property was confiscated. Hong Chengchou was frightened, it was a hot day, and he felt a chill rising from the bottom of his heart, trembling slightly, and he didn't know how to argue for a while. A ten-year-old and good-looking relative came in with the curtain lifted, and the shadow flashed like a light gait, draped a kudzu robe on his back with a light gait, and then retreated.

Zhang Ruoqi said with a smile: "My lord, the governor of the three armies, and it is good to serve the living and eating with his family, why bother to suffer like this?" ”

"My mother is in the hall, and as a son of man, I have been loyal to the state for many years, so I have to leave Jing to serve in my hometown. Fang Cai's personal follower Jin Sheng has been with me for many years, he is smart and clever, and he is the same. Hong Chengchou sighed: "Yintai, why don't I want to fight this battle as soon as possible, and why don't I want to finish the battle and return to the division in triumph?" Since the use of troops in Liaodong, they have all been defeated in the rash advance of the enemy, and they are determined to succeed but use their troops by luck and take risks. In the forty-sixth year of Wanli, the army was defeated by Salhu, and more than half of the 100,000 troops were killed and wounded. The lessons of the past are daunting, and the imperial court really can't afford to win or lose. The reason why I am holding on to the army and sticking to Ningyuan is that if I don't fight, I will win. One is to avoid the enemy's edge, desperately consume financial resources, the products outside the customs are not as rich as the Central Plains, and when their property is scarce, the Qing people are bound to be war-weary, and civil strife arises by itself. The second is the trend of Jinzhou becoming a horn, echoing each other. Zu Dashou wrote that the grain and grass in the city could support half a year, and there was no need to rush into the army to relieve the siege. In less than half a year, Dongyu is bound to be short of food and grass, and it is difficult to continue, and North Korea has done everything it has, and it will no longer be able to supply Huang Taiji with anything. At that time, our army took advantage of the situation to pursue and attack with all its might, and the recovery of Liaodong was just around the corner. ”

Hong Chengchou took a sip of herbal tea, and then said: "You are ordered to supervise the army, and you have the right to play secretly, I am worried that you and I disagree, everything is different, one army and two commanders, the most taboo for soldiers." The 130,000 army is nested in the land of Ningyuan, spending tens of thousands of military dollars every day, I can't fight, and I can't explain to the emperor without fighting, and I don't want to delay it for too long, otherwise the spittle stars of the officials will also drown me. In the past year, all I have been worried about is the safety of the imperial court. The war situation in Liaodong is the most suitable for protracted attrition, not for quick battles. Now that the elite in the big customs is really desperate, it is very risky! Needless to say, the thieves took the opportunity to breathe, in case something went wrong, not only did Liaodong have no soldiers to hold onto, but even the customs were in danger. Needless to say, half of my life has been in vain, and I really don't have the face to see my old father and the emperor again. Since the end of Wanli, none of the governors and ministers who have gone abroad have had a good end, and they must be cautious in public and private. Hong Chengchou touched the oracle in his sleeve, and there was still doubt on his face.

Zhang Ruoqi saw that his face changed color, and knew that he was already on fire, and then persuaded: "The superintendent has been on the battlefield for a long time, and the matter of the conquest should not be taken lightly, but I am worried that the superintendent is clear in Liaodong and ignorant of the court, and it will be easy to succeed and it will be difficult to retreat!" ””

Hong Chengchou was dull for a long time, and arched his hand: "Yintai, is there only one way to enter the army?" ”

"Not bad! If you insist on holding on, I am afraid that there is only one dead end. ”

"Where is there any way out? Entering the army is also a dead end! Hong Chengchou smiled bitterly a few times, looked up to the sky and sighed, speechless for a long time. Jin Sheng opened the curtain again and came in and said, "The banquet is ready, and the adults are waiting for the master to start the banquet!" ”

Hong Chengchou got up and said, "Yintai, wait for it!" Walking out of the study with Zhang Ruoqi one after another, he was worried that Zhang Ruoqi was a confidant of his own soldiers, and only thought about how to please Chen Xinjia, not focusing on the overall situation, but secretly glad that Zhang Ruoqi was not a eunuch after all, maybe he could still work together, and most of those court situations were true, which could be regarded as a heart-to-heart. What he was most worried about was that the emperor relied on some Tang newspapers, some songs, and some spies of Jinyiwei to remotely control thousands of miles away, and he was to blame at every turn, and he was caught off guard and could not see the opportunity.

After a night of deliberation, Hong Chengchou made up his mind, left Zhang Ruoqi Ningyuan, dispatched grain and grass, and put the grain, grass, horses and other baggage in Bijia Mountain, the peak of Tashan 70 miles away from Jinzhou, and ordered Yang Guozhu to lead 60,000 troops as the vanguard. Dig a trench between Rufeng Mountain and Songshan City, and set up seven large camps in a row, the Chinese army camped in Rufeng Mountain in the north of Songshan City, and the elite cavalry was stationed on the east and west sides of the mountain. Seeing that the Ming army had arrived, the commander of the Qing army, Prince Rui, Dolgon, flew to Shengjing to ask for assistance. Huang Taiji was shocked and ordered Prince Zheng Jierharang to return to Shengjing to stay, mobilize the soldiers and horses of the Eight Banners of Manchuria, and personally command the aid of Jinzhou. Unexpectedly, the anxiety was excessive, and the nose suddenly bled non-stop, and the army had to be postponed for three days. Huang Taiji's younger brothers, Azig and Duoduo, the kings of Doluo Wuying, were afraid that he would be anxious and went to the palace to visit. Huang Taiji asked Concubine Zhuang to hold her arm, sat up from the bed, and asked the two younger brothers, "Are you here to persuade me not to go on the expedition?" ”

Azig spoke quickly and bluntly, "Exactly." Brother Wang's health is not safe, it is better to stay in Shengjing to recuperate with peace of mind, and let the ministers lead the troops to fight, why bother to go to Laodong in person! ”

"Don't you two understand what you mean! Jinzhou is only left in the city, it is desirable, I am still besieging but not attacking, intending to lead the Ming army out of the pass to help, and my eight banners are waiting for work. This time, the elite of the Ming army was exhausted, and I happened to fight them in a decisive battle. If this Ming army is defeated, the Ming Dynasty can be swept away as soon as possible, but the long-cherished wish of his father Khan back then. For many years, I have been waiting for such a day, this is a good opportunity given to us by God, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we will abandon the ominous. For the foundation created by Father Khan, I should endure the pain for a while. ”

Duoduo was far more witty than Azig, knowing that it was useless to persuade directly, and that if he did not speak well, he would anger his brother and be self-defeating, so he pondered silently, thinking about how to persuade. Huang Taiji saw that his face was gloomy, and he couldn't help laughing: "You have been through a hundred battles with me, how can you grow up today?" Don't just care about my body, kill the enemy with my strength, destroy the main force of the Ming army in one fell swoop, and go straight to Yanjing, wouldn't it be happy! ”

Duoduo shook his head and said: "It's not that the courtier's brother and daughter are long-term, but I just want to persuade Brother Wang to rest in Shengjing for a few more days, and the courtier's brother will lead the troops to go first, and Brother Wang will rush to Jinzhou as soon as he is well." ”

Huang Taiji waved his hand and said: "Saving soldiers is like fighting fire, marching to win, the advantage is in the speed of God, I hate not to grow wings, fly to the front enemy, how can I go slowly?" And as soon as I arrived in Jinzhou, I could not only inspire the soldiers, but also devote myself to the war, and I would not feel sick. If you are a few days late, the situation on the front line is unclear and you feel anxious, it may not be conducive to the recovery of the sick body. ”

Duoduo smiled and said: "The Ming army is cowardly, and the younger brothers will be able to repel them, so why should the royal brother be impatient!" ”

Huang Taiji asked rhetorically: "Who is the commander of the Ming army?" ”

"Hong Chengchou." Duoduo didn't think twice.

"Do you know where he came from?"

"I have heard a little, and I know that this person has made great achievements in suppressing thieves in Shaanxi."

"The Han people's art of war says that only by knowing each other and knowing oneself can one win a hundred battles. Since ancient times, there has been no law for the use of troops, so how can you fight indiscriminately without asking who your opponent is? That Hong Chengchou is a Jinshi in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, outstanding literary talent, and quite strategic, he was the governor of Sanqin, repeatedly performed miraculous feats, and was very prestigious in the Ming Dynasty. When I was sick the day before yesterday, I summoned Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi, and they all said that this person had the talent to go through the heavens and the earth, and they admired him very much, and reminded me to be careful and not to take it lightly. I know very well that this decisive battle is very important, if you sit in Shengjing, you will inevitably delay the time and delay the fighter plane, it is better for me to come to command and make a decision on the spot. ”

Seeing that Huang Taiji had considered things far more thoroughly, Azig and Duoduo secretly admired them and retreated in shame. Concubine Zhuang helped Huang Taiji lie down, and while holding a fan for him, she asked softly: "Your Majesty, is Hong Chengchou really that powerful?" ”

Huang Taiji held Concubine Zhuang's little hand, and said with a look in his eyes: "Since Geng and Shang Er said so, it is definitely not a lie. Since I was fifteen years old, I followed my father Khan to fight everywhere, knowing full well that I would be planning rather than courage. Geng and Shang Er will submit to my Qing Dynasty for a long time, I am afraid that they don't know much, Hong Chengchou is afraid that it will be more than that, the Ming Dynasty 130,000 horses are not terrible, what is terrible is Hong Chengchou alone! If this person can surrender, I will be like a tiger with wings, and I will be able to determine the Central Plains as soon as possible and dominate the world. ”

Concubine Zhuang couldn't help but wonder, is there really such a powerful person in the world? I have to ask again, seeing that Huang Taiji's expression is flying, and he looks like he is in the world, I am afraid that he will be extremely excited and too distracted, so he said softly: "Your Majesty should rest early, and you will leave tomorrow!" ”

Huang Taiji saw that Concubine Zhuang looked a little haggard, and said caressfully: "I have worked hard for you in the past few days, and my face has been reduced a lot. ”

Concubine Zhuang smiled and said: "Why is Your Majesty polite to your concubine, this is the duty of your concubine, as long as Your Majesty recovers as soon as possible, this hard work is nothing." ”

Huang Taiji was greatly moved, sat up again, grabbed Concubine Zhuang's face, and sighed: "You have followed me for more than ten years this year!" ”

"Sixteen years."

"Over the years, I have gone out to fight, and I have been with you less and more often, and I have also suffered you. I am now dyed with slight frost on my temples, and I still have to go into battle to kill the enemy, and I can't stay with you, don't blame me. When the river and sea are clear, I am located in an elder brother, and I don't care about worldly things, and I will visit the garden with a few of you concubines and enjoy the family together. ”

Concubine Zhuang listened, remembering the heart that has often hung for Huang Taiji for more than ten years, those days and nights of waiting, expecting, and watching, happy because of him, sad for him, couldn't help but feel sour, her eyes were red, and she said faintly: "The concubine has been able to serve Your Majesty since she was a child, how can she not know Your Majesty's thoughts and aspirations?" Being able to serve His Majesty for so many years is already a blessing for a concubine, and there is no hardship that cannot be endured, and there is no pain that cannot be endured. Your Majesty must take care, how many major events will have to be judged by Your Majesty! Huang Taiji held Concubine Zhuang's hands tightly, a smile appeared on his face, but his heart was painful.

The next day, the day just dawned, Huang Taiji came to the front of the Qing Dynasty in military uniform, all the civil and military ministers had already gathered here, set up the big flag, performed the hall to sacrifice to the sky, Huang Taiji gave an order, led the 100,000 troops to Jinzhou. Huang Taiji was eager to rescue and couldn't help urging him to go quickly, but because he was tired of walking and tired of walking, he didn't come back for more than a hundred miles a day, so he ordered Azig and Duoduo to lead the army to hurry as usual, and personally led 3,000 elite cavalry to gallop day and night. Huang Taiji's heart was too hot, and secondly, the nosebleed had not stopped, and he marched continuously, without rest, and the nosebleed could not stop, so he had to plug his nostrils with a strip of cloth, and the outer layers were tightly wrapped. Six days later, Huang Taiji arrived at Qijiabao near Songshan. Dolgon and Hauge took a few miles away and welcomed Huang Taiji into the camp. Huang Taiji listened to the report of the two, and the generals out of the camp to lookout, the Ming army banners cover the field, swords and guns are like forests, drums and horns correspond to each other, the camp leans on the mountains and seas, dotted with dots, stretches between Gaoqiao and Songshan, no less than 30 miles, and said: "Songshan is the throat of Ning and Jin, if our army wants to capture the four cities outside the pass, it should be the first to break this city." Now that the Ming army is one step ahead of me, it has protected the vital points, and it is more difficult to attack the city, what good plan do you have? The generals were speechless, and Huang Taiji returned to the big tent and sat silently alone. After missing two more times, Fan Wencheng entered the account and said: "The minister knows that His Majesty has trouble sleeping this night, so he has come to chat with His Majesty to relieve his boredom." ”

"Fan Zhangjing, you came just in time, I really didn't feel a little sleepy!"

"Your Majesty, the minister has sent you a sleepy bug."

"Hah...... Good! Tell me about your tricks. ”

But it is also ordinary, the minister's strategy is only three words: cut off the grain. Just now the minister and His Majesty watched the camp of the Ming army, did not see much grain and grass, presumably they were in a hurry to enter the army, carrying not much grain and grass, our army can be in the south of the Ming army between Songshan and Xingshan, west from the south of the Wuxin River, east to the sea, cross the road, set up a large camp in a row, and hold on to it; Then from Jinzhou to the seaside, dig three large trenches more than three zhang wide, cut off its grain road, and then explore the place where the Ming army stored grain, and grab its grain and grass. When the Ming army runs out of food and grass, it will be chaotic without a fight. ”

Huang Taiji nodded and said, "This is a clever plan, but I don't know where the grain and grass of the Ming army are stored." ”

"The place where the grain and grass of the Ming army is stored will not be far away, Hong Chengchou is old and calculating, and will send heavy troops to guard it, and there will inevitably be lights in the granary at night, and the pine mountain here is the highest, and it can be inferred from the lookout."

"Do you have the guts to go up the mountain with me?"

"There are already a large number of Ming troops stationed in Songshan, Your Majesty is the hope of all the people, and the dragon's body is in good shape, it seems that you can't take this risk."

"In the dead of night, the mountains are wooded and easy to hide. Besides, the army would never have thought that someone would go up the mountain to snoop, take off their armor and change clothes, and take it by surprise, but it is expected that there will be no major problems. ”

Fan Wencheng no longer dissuaded, and took advantage of the opportunity of Huang Taiji's change of clothes, and ordered the entourage outside the tent to fly to Dolgon and others, and led the soldiers and horses to follow behind secretly in case of accidents.

In the middle of the night, the mountain breeze is slightly cool, and a waning moon hangs obliquely in the southeast sky, and the pine waves are bursting, as if ambushing thousands of troops and horses. Huang Taiji and Fan Wencheng, under the escort of several personal soldiers, quietly avoided the Ming army camp and climbed Songshan. The pine mountain is only more than 100 zhang high, but the hills are undulating, twisting and turning, and it is not easy to climb. By the faint moonlight, Huang Taiji looked down on the Ming army camp under the mountain, the lights were bright, shining for several miles, and there were also lights flickering sporadically in the mountains, and it was the Ming army stationed in those dangerous places. Looking due north again, the lights of Jinzhou City, which is more than ten miles away, must be the Ming army holding the city day and night. Turning to look at the south, he saw that there were about two lights faintly in the southwest, and a light in the southeast was like a silver ribbon, as if swimming in the boundless night, and asked, "Where are those three fires?" ”

Fan Wencheng replied: "The light near the southwest is Xingshan City, which is built by the mountains eighteen miles away, and the one that is farther away is Tashan City, which is thirty-eight miles away. The light to the southeast is Beacon Hill. ”

Huang Taiji said: "The Ming army marching from Ningyuan must have a lot of grain and grass, according to Zhang Jing's intentions, where will they put it?" ”

Fan Wencheng replied: "Hong Chengchou uses his troops to be prudent and does not act rashly, so it can be inferred that he must be extremely cautious about grain and grass, and place it in a place where advance and retreat can be supplied in time, nothing more than these three places. ”

Huang Taiji said with a smile: "Xingshan City is built on the mountain, the terrain is narrow, it is difficult to store, and this city is not easy to defend if it is attacked over the mountain; The mountain road in Tower Hill is rugged and difficult to carry. Beacon Hill is convenient for both. ”

Fan Wencheng praised: "Your Majesty is wise and insightful. The grain and grass of the Ming army mostly relied on shipping, and the distance between Bijia Mountain and the coast was two or three miles, and the tide rose, and it became an isolated island hanging in the turbulent waves. When the tide recedes, a gravel road four or five zhang wide is revealed, which the locals call an overpass. If you rob the granary of the Ming army, you must calculate the time of the tide rise and fall, and if there is a deviation, you will be buried in the belly of the fish. The night dew is heavy, and it is time for Your Majesty to return to camp. ”

Huang Taiji nodded and followed the same path down the mountain back to the camp. Arrived at the bottom of the mountain, walked not far, met a large group of people, silently, Fan Wencheng was shocked, was about to hide with Huang Taiji, was already discovered, suddenly, was surrounded in the middle, the guards of the personal soldiers drew their swords to fight, the two led by the two have already rolled the saddle and dismounted, quickly greeted them, and said: "The ministers and others are here to meet the holy car." Listening to the voice, it turned out to be Dolgon and Hauge, and Fan Wencheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Huang Taiji was stunned and said, "How do you know that I am out of camp at night? ”

Dolgon looked at Fan Wencheng and stopped talking. Haoge hurriedly said: "Fan Zhangjing ordered someone to tell his son that his father was going to climb Songshan at night, and his son was afraid that his father would lose, so he and his fifteenth uncle led a thousand elite soldiers to bypass the Ming army and come to greet him. ”

Huang Taiji said with a smile: "I originally planned to go quietly with Fan Zhangjing and return quietly, but now that the war is tight, I don't want to alarm you and waste my mind." Even if this is the case, it can't let the Ming army rest in peace and disturb them. After that, he ordered all the soldiers to face the camp of the Ming army and shouted in unison: "The emperor of the Dajin Kingdom is coming to visit the camp!" "Repeated more than ten times, earth-shattering. Most of the officers and men of the Ming army were sleeping soundly, and when they heard the shouts, they got up together to be on guard.

Huang Taiji, surrounded by everyone, returned to the camp. Fan Wencheng opened a scroll of maps and pointed: "Since Bijia Mountain is a granary, it must be heavily guarded, and it is separated by sea water, so it cannot be attacked. It is difficult to attack, but it will give the Ming army a wake-up call. The tide rises and falls twice a day, and the overpass is blocked, and the Ming army is bound to slack off at this time, and can take the opportunity to smuggle in. If it succeeds and burns the grain and grass, the Ming army will inevitably panic and sacrifice their lives to break through, and our army can wait for work and take the opportunity to intercept. ”

"The stakes in the war are very important, and there must be no mistakes. Otherwise, if Hong Chengchou retreats back to Ningyuan, with the cannons of the fortified city, we can't help him. If you go to rob the grain, you will send a general. Huang Taiji glanced at everyone and ordered Dolgon and Azig to lead troops to attack Beacon Hill. From the age of seventeen, Dorgon began to lead his troops in war, and at the age of twenty he took charge of the ministry. In August of the 11th year of Chongzhen, he led the Qing soldiers to enter the Great Wall from the wall and Qingshankou, went deep into Jifu, defeated the Ming army at the Artemisia Bridge in Julu, killed Lu Xiangsheng, and then transferred to Shandong, broke Jinan, and captured the Ming Dynasty's Zongde King. Everyone saw that the emperor sent him to Beacon Mountain, which showed that they valued him. Huang Taiji repeatedly admonished: "This time the intention is to rob the grain, don't fall in love with the war, and you must leave more Ming troops alive, so that they can bring the news of the loss of grain to Songshan to disturb their military hearts." ”

Dolgon and Azig led 3,000 elite soldiers to the beach before dusk the next day. Prepared a sheepskin raft and quietly smuggled to Beacon Hill. I saw seven tents scattered on Beacon Mountain, and the surroundings were quiet, and there was no grain or grass in sight. Azig complained: "If there is no food and grass, wouldn't you have walked so many unjust roads in vain?" ”

Dorgon reassured: "Since there are soldiers and horses to guard it, there must be food and grass." We'll break them up first, and then we'll look for them carefully. So he left a thousand men as backups, and each of them led a thousand men, Azig on the left and Dorgon on the right, and went straight to the camp. The sergeants of the Ming camp only thought that there was a large camp in Songshan to block it, and they did not expect that there would be Qing soldiers to kill, and they were completely defenseless, and they did not even have a sentry standing guard, and they were sleeping soundly and boldly, and they had no time to resist, and some of them became ghosts under the sword in their dreams, and some of them did not have time to put on their armor, so they fled in a hurry, and in an instant the seven camps were defeated. Dolgon ordered his soldiers to chase after him, deliberately letting go of a Ming army and allowing them to flee northward, combining his soldiers and horses in search of food and grass. Quickly to the top of the mountain, see a dense forest, go in to inspect, through the woods, the inside suddenly opens, is an extremely open col, the terrain is flat, there is a natural cave in the place where the mountain rock is towering, there are hundreds of stacks of grain and grass neatly outside the hole, look at it from afar, like the pine mushroom unearthed after the rain. The two were overjoyed, and hurriedly ordered 3,000 soldiers to carry out the grain and grass in the cave, gather in one place, pick up some good military rations and take them away, and burn the rest of the fire, go down the mountain along the original road, and return to the camp to pay the order.

Huang Taiji knew that the sneak attack of the two was successful, stroked Fan Wencheng's shoulders and laughed: "The Ming Army will be defeated!" At that moment, he ordered Dolgon to transport some of the grain and grass he brought back to the front of the two armies, pile up a large stack, and let tens of thousands of soldiers shout in unison: "Marshal Xie Hong gives the army rations generously!" Shocked that the soldiers of the Ming army came out of the camp to watch, and the Qing army took the opportunity to ignite the grain stack, and the fire soared into the sky for a while.