1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 704 The Mutation of the Qing Army

February 2, afternoon, four o'clock.

The two sides of the Yalu River, where the war was raging, have gradually quieted down, and the heavy snow like goose feathers is falling on the ground one after another. A strong north wind blows by, making the snowflakes fall even faster.From the frozen river surface to the gentle slope in front of the earth barrier on the north bank, there are countless corpses of the Qing army, layer upon layer, and the falling snow is gradually covering them. It seems that this bloody battlefield is completely hidden here. In the pure and white world.

On the wilderness hundreds of meters behind the earth barrier, more than [-] Qing army prisoners were simply divided into dozens of pieces, all curled up on the snowy ground with a look of panic on their faces.

More than [-] Ming troops were fully armed and scattered all around, watching the Qing camp of prisoners with full vigilance.However, there were changes, and the Ming army did not mind using muskets, bows and arrows to suppress them mercilessly and indiscriminately.

However, after more than half a day of fighting, all the prisoners of the Qing army were already hungry and cold, and they were frightened and frightened by the fierce firepower of the Qi army and the forest of bayonets. In the prisoner camp, silently waiting for his unknown fate.

In the tragic offensive and defensive battle in the morning, in just over two hours, the Qing army left more than [-] corpses. Even though [-] elite Manchurian infantry were dispatched to charge the battle, under the intensive firepower of the Qi army, they all fell down one after another. On the gentle slope in front of the river bank and the earth barrier.

When Yue Le, the coach of the Qing army, appeared by the river in a cool and stylish outfit, although this move greatly inspired the fighting spirit of the officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners and made the offensive of the Qing army reach the climax of the day, it also successfully attracted With the attention of the artillerymen of the Qi Army, several cannons were fired at him almost at the same time, and one of the projectiles, with its huge kinetic energy, penetrated the belly of Yue Le's horse and took away one of his thighs at the same time.

Several Ba Yala who accompanied him immediately rushed the blood-stained Yue Le to the back of the formation, took off his armor, tore off his brocade robe, and tried to block the huge wound that was constantly gushing blood.

However, in less than a quarter of an hour, Yue Le, who was seriously injured and unconscious, was dead and died on the muddy ice.

Many Eight Banners generals and Ba Yala guards who gathered around Yue Le's body were ashamed, and everyone looked like a mourning concubine.

In the Qing army, military law has always been strict, and the commander-in-chief of the army died in battle. As a guard, Ba Yala naturally died in the line of duty, and the generals under his command judged the crimes separately because of the different results of the battle.If you win the battle, you will be punished with death, you will be punished, you will be fined, or you will be demoted to use; The general died in battle with the commander, but the family was not as bad as the disaster.

For the sake of the future and wealth of their families in Beijing, dozens of Eight Banners generals led more than a thousand Eight Banners soldiers and launched a frenzied attack on the Qi army's soil base with a determined face.Li Fade, the commander of the coalition forces, immediately mobilized all the reserve forces to launch a large-scale counterattack. After hundreds of casualties, he drove the Qing army out of the fortress and chased them all the way to the river.

After losing the suppression of the commander and the Manchurian Eight Banners, facing the unstoppable charge of the coalition forces, the Eight Banners Han army collapsed irresistibly. They turned and fled towards the south bank one after another. Seeing that they could not escape, some soldiers of the Qing army discarded their weapons. , Kneeling down on the muddy snow, screaming and crying, begging to surrender to the rushing coalition soldiers.

The coalition forces chased them all the way to the center of the Yalu River. Fearing that they would be counterattacked by the Qing cavalry on the opposite bank, they stopped, escorted more than [-] prisoners, and slowly retreated to the north bank.

At [-] o'clock in the afternoon, several envoys from the Eight Banners of the Qing Army and the Han Army asked the allied forces to surrender on the premise of asking the Qi army to promise not to massacre and retaliate against them.

The generals of the coalition army heard that the Eight Banners troops of Manchu and Mongolia, the core of the Qing army, had robbed the few food and tents left in Yizhou City, abandoned the Eight Banners of the Han army, and fled to the northwest, and immediately agreed to the request of the remaining Qing army to surrender. .

Under the order of the Ming and Qi coalition forces, the Qing army on the south bank all removed their armor and discarded their weapons. Thousands of people crossed the Yalu River in batches, and then they were guarded in a designated snowy wasteland behind the earth barrier.

When the Marine Corps officers and soldiers of the two battalions of the Qi Army entered Yizhou City cautiously, after killing hundreds of officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners who were still stubbornly resisting, they found that, as the Eight Banners Han soldiers said, more than [-] Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners troops were in the desert. Under the leadership of Er Huda, it seems that they have detoured the upper reaches of the Yalu River, preparing to return to Liaodong through forests and snow fields.In this regard, the coalition forces were relieved.If this is the case, in such a snowy day, less than [-]% of these fleeing Qing troops will eventually return to Liaodong alive.

Calculated in this way, almost most of the more than [-] Qing troops were wiped out on both sides of the Yalu River, which can be said to have caused the heaviest loss to the Qing captives in ten years.

"Make gruel for those Qing prisoners." Li Fade, the commander of the coalition army, wrapped in a heavy cotton coat, glanced at the prisoner camp in the distance, "Even if we want to kill them all, we have to let them put something on. It’s not coming, they’re all a bunch of starving ghosts.”

"No... all of them were slaughtered, right?" He Yunfeng was taken aback, "That's nearly ten thousand prisoners of the Qing army!"

"The Qing prisoner slaughtered Denglai, and hundreds of thousands of people died. Among the various ministries of the Ming army who came with him, many relatives or villagers died under the butcher's knife of the Qing prisoner." Li Fade shook his head and sighed: "In addition, this After a few days of fighting, our army also suffered a lot of losses, in order to vent their anger, even if not all of them were slaughtered, it is inevitable to carry out a certain amount of massacres."

"...How much do you want to kill?" He Yunfeng asked carefully.

"Or draw one of the three."

"What about the rest?"

"All of them were sent to Yunzhou and Zhenzhou to be slaves. ... The Yongchu court lost Denglai, and the migration of the population there would be somewhat affected. Thousands of Qing army captives were more or less a human supplement. Yes Already, have the casualties been counted?"

"Casualty statistics have been released, and the loss...is a bit big." He Yunfeng's expression darkened.

"……speak."

"Marine Corps officers and soldiers killed 220 and five people and injured 340 and two people; Changshan Island Township soldiers killed 96 people and injured 150 and five people; the self-rescue army killed 280 and seven people and injured 330 and eight people; 24 people were injured; a total of 57 people were killed in battle, 630 people were injured, and a total of 890 people were lost in battle.”

"Where are the ministries of the Ming army?"

"The casualties of the Yongchu imperial court were 600, and the casualties of the Zheng army were around [-]."

"Nearly half of the casualties!"

"I'm afraid the situation is even worse." He Yunfeng said: "Several military doctors said that most of the seriously injured may die one after another in the next few days. In addition, there are hundreds of people who are suffering from frostbite, wind-cold and other diseases. In the end, there will definitely be varying degrees. damage."

"You shit!" Li Fade was stunned for a moment, and then cursed viciously. He didn't know whether he was cursing the severe cold weather or the Qing captives who caused a lot of casualties to the Qi army.

"Order all the ministries to clean up their heads and tails and prepare to evacuate." Li Fade ordered.

"How to divide the seized materials from the Qing Dynasty?"

"We want half of the property that the Qing captives plundered from North Korea!" Li Fade said: "With these money and goods, they can comfort the dead and wounded brothers. The Zheng army and the two families will divide equally."
-
On February 2, North Korea, Pyongyang City.

The Eight Banners of Manchuria Xianglan Banner Gushan Ezhen and Ningguta Angbangzhangjing Shaerhuda stood at the top of the city, watching the bloody killing in the city with cold eyes. The bloodthirsty demons waved their long knives and slashed at the fleeing North Korean soldiers and civilians.Even if there were those who kneeled and surrendered, they failed to escape death. The Qing army armored soldiers chopped off their heads with a knife, and then stepped on his body and continued to hunt and kill.

A few days ago, when Sarhuda led more than [-] Eight Banners soldiers from the north bank of the Yalu River to return to Yizhou City, they encountered countless Qing troops fleeing back from the river.Knowing that the commander of the army, Yue Le, was killed in battle, dozens of generals from the Eight Banners, including Aungbang Zhangjing Marsai, Gushan Ezhengha Kamu, Meilezhangjing Gachuha, etc., all died in front of the earth barrier on the north bank. Er Huda and other generals of the Eight Banners immediately fell into an ice cave, looking at each other speechlessly, feeling a little at a loss.

After returning to his senses, the commander of the guard army, Suoning, suggested that he lead the remaining [-] officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners of Manchuria and Mongolia, and then drive all the Han troops to attack the Jiangbei Allied Army's soil fortress, fight the enemy, and shed the last drop of blood for our Qing Dynasty .

The commander died in battle, the army was defeated, and even if all the generals of the Eight Banners escaped back to Liaodong by chance, they would be severely punished by the court. There is no need to think about light punishments such as dismissal from office, cutting nobles and fines. There is only one fate waiting for everyone. That is, he was beheaded by the court to show the public, and the whole family was confiscated as slaves.That being the case, why not turn around and kill the enemy with all your strength, seek benevolence and gain benevolence, and you can more or less exonerate your family members.

However, after a moment of silence, Sharhuda stopped many Eight Banners generals who wanted to die in time.It is said that it is easy for the generals to die in front of the battle, and it can absolve the family members of the crime, but the thousands of troops under the Eight Banners should not be wasted in vain.Our Qing Dynasty has a small population and it is not easy to replenish it. We should keep all of them as a way out.He cried blood and begged many generals of the Eight Banners to follow him to bring the remaining [-] Eight Banners troops back to Liaodong safely, so that they would not be sacrificed here needlessly.

Except for a few Eight Banners generals who reprimanded Sarhuda for his actions, they excused themselves in a disguised form for the sake of saving their own lives, and insisted that the generals lead their troops to turn around and attack the coalition's fortress on the opposite bank.

The only way to die through hardships through the ages is, not to mention some people suggest retreating to other places to wait for future events.Although the generals wanted to get rid of their family members, they had to die in front of the battle.But what Sarhuda said is very reasonable. Our core troops of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty only have tens of thousands of people. Weakened the core strength of my Qing Dynasty and shaken the ruling foundation of my Qing Dynasty.

As a result, more than [-] Manchurian and Mongolian Eight Banners officers and soldiers seized the few remaining food and tents in the camp, and led the troops directly to the northwest, making a gesture of fleeing back to Liaodong from the mountains and forests in the upper reaches of the Yalu River.

But after Sharhuda led his troops to the northwest for more than ten miles, he suddenly turned around and headed southeast, and went straight to kill in the hinterland of North Korea.

The Qing army passed through Yanzhou, Donglin, Xuanchuan, Dingzhou, Anzhou and other key cities all the way, running for more than a hundred miles, but they did not capture much.In desperation, the Qing army could only slaughter some of the horses, thinking that the entire army would be fed.When they reached the city of Pyongyang, although they kept looting and looting along the way, they didn't get much. As a result, more than [-] Qing troops died of cold and starvation.

Shen Liu, the North Korean military envoy half a month ago, led [-] troops and followed the Qing army all the way back to the north. When they arrived in Pyongyang, it was confirmed that the Qing army would indeed withdraw from North Korea and return to Liaodong.In addition, he also received news that in the rear of the Qing army, an army was blocked by the Yalu River, trying to prevent the withdrawal of the Qing army.

However, Shen Liu did not dare to lead his troops to continue northward, and flanked the Qing army with the army guarding the Yalu River.He very wisely stationed his troops in Pyongyang, and sent back good news to Seoul. Under his leadership, the army, after a series of arduous battles, drove back the Tartars and successfully recovered Pyongyang.

After Shen Liu led the troops to garrison Pyongyang, while gathering scattered officials and civilians, he waited for the news from the Yalu River that the Qing army had completely retreated to Liaodong. Retreat and recover all the lands captured by the Tartars.For the army on the Yalu River that dared to stop the Tartars from returning to the north, Shen Liu, the commander-in-chief of the Joseon Dynasty, did not give any hope. He believed that it might be that the Ming army in the mainland wanted to launch a surprise attack while the Tartars were evacuating, just to take advantage of it.Then, it is also a high probability event that they were defeated and scattered by the Tartars.

However, Shen Liu had not received the news that the Qing army had crossed the Yalu River and evacuated North Korea, but waited for thousands of wolves and tigers to turn around, and suddenly attacked Pyongyang City at night, and sent the [-] troops stationed there. Yu North Korean officers and soldiers were quickly defeated, and then another bloody massacre was launched against the whole city.

"Xidai, take someone to restrain the order in the city." Sharhuda turned his head and told a leader of the Eight Banners: "If the North Koreans are slaughtered, who will help us in the next few months."

"Hey!" Xi Dai promised, and rode off the top of the city with more than a dozen armored soldiers, mounted their horses, and ran towards the noisy city.

"Master Du Tong, do we need to garrison Pyongyang City?" Lai Da asked.

"Within a radius of hundreds of miles, only the big city of Pyongyang can barely survive." Sarhuda let out a long breath, "Besides, we have few troops and are unable to advance to the south of Korea. Therefore, we can only Hold on to this city for the time being, and when the weather gets warmer, we will send people back to Liaodong to ask the court for instructions on the next step."

"...how will the imperial court deal with us?" Lai Da suddenly asked after a long silence.

"...Aside from death, the family members are not slaves, is there any other end?" Sarhuda smiled miserably.

"Lord Dutong, you are from the Guerjia clan of Huerhabu, right?"

"Well, I'm Huerhabu Guerjia." Sharhuda looked at Laida strangely.

"I'm from the Sochoro clan of the Urabbe." Laida said.

"What do you want to say?"

"Decades ago, we were all conquered by the Aixinjueluo family in Jianzhou, and we became the generals of the Eight Banners under the jurisdiction of the Qing court today."

"..." Sharhuda looked at Laida puzzled.

"I waited for my father and grandfather to work hard for the Aixinjueluo family for decades, and only then did I defeat the Ming court and create a chance for the Qing Dynasty to enter the pass and sweep the world." Lai Da continued boldly: "This Over the past ten years, we have fought against the puppet Ming Dynasty, fought against the bandits, conquered Mobei, fought hundreds of bloody battles, and made countless achievements. This time we were ordered to attack North Korea, lying on ice and drinking snow, beheading generals and seizing cities all the way, almost destroying North Korea. Unexpectedly, we were blocked by Qi Fan's army on the bank of the Yalu River, resulting in the defeat of the army and the death of Yue Le. Now, we are waiting to lead the remnants of the army to attack North Korea and capture Pyongyang to preserve the strength of the Eight Banners, but we have to wait for the court in vain The decree is to be slaughtered just waiting for the neck to be drawn, and the family members are not slaves....When I think about it, I am very unwilling!"

"How would you like?"

"The Aixinjueluo family shouldn't treat us so harshly."

"...Military law is ruthless, and the imperial court has its own laws. Why are you alone complaining about your injustice?"

"With the situation by the Yalu River, even if Fulin from Aixinjueluo's family in the capital came in person, there would be no better result!"

"Lai Da, you are bold!" Sharhuda heard that Lai Da called the emperor by his name, drew out a long knife, and put it on his neck, "As a child of the Eight Banners, do you want to rebel?"

"Master Dutong, I just don't want to die like this." Lai Da said fiercely: "I think many generals in the army at this time have gone through untold hardships and narrow escapes, and finally escaped here. Just one piece of imperial edict, you will die in vain under the knife and axe... Lord Dutong, what do you wish for?"

"But..., but..., my family and I are all in the capital..." A trace of hesitation flashed in Sarhuda's eyes, and the hand holding the knife was also slightly slow.

"It's better to be killed by the court than to be a slave if your family is not born..."

"North Korea is on the side of Liaodong, how can it escape the imperial conquest?"

"A few months ago, Master Dutong told us that in the north of Heilongjiang, there are high mountains and dense forests, and there are countless tribes of savages hidden in the mountains, and their force is unbearable. If this is the case, why not hide there, conquer the extreme north, and capture the savages As a slave, you can enjoy the rest of your life happily. If it is possible, it is impossible to say that you can also achieve the foundation of the Aixinjueluo family." Seeing that Sarhuda was moved, Lai Da continued to persuade.

"...Thousands of miles, we want to go, it's not easy."

"I'll wait here for a few months to loot all over North Korea, bring enough supplies, and then drive tens of thousands of North Korean people all the way north when the weather gets warmer." Lai Da's face was full of ferocity, "Even if it takes a few Tens of thousands of human lives can also wade out a passage to the extreme north."

(End of this chapter)