weaving

On the ninth day of October in the 14th year of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, in the afternoon, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. The white snow in the wilderness was shining brightly under the sunlight.

The original Qing army garrison in the west of Jinzhou City was empty. If there were no raised snowdrifts here and there, you would not have noticed that this was a camp where tens of thousands of troops were stationed.

However, from here to the north and west, there are more than a dozen roads with thin snow cover, extending forward continuously, which seems to be the route when the Qing army retreated.

Many Ye Bushou of the Xuanfu army wore white cloaks, and rode white horses along these roads with slightly thinner snow than other places, and followed them all the way to the west and north.

It can be confirmed that the Qing army retreated while taking advantage of the heavy snow, but the whereabouts of the tens of thousands of Qing troops must be investigated clearly.

But if it is taking advantage of the heavy snow weather and it is inconvenient to check, and move troops to lie dormant near the Ming army, if the Ming army relaxes its vigilance because of this, wouldn't it be a hit?
It wasn't until the evening of that day that sentries from all walks of life came back one after another. According to their reports, they tracked to the location of the northwest corner tower in Jinzhou, but there was still no trace of the Qing army, but it seemed that the route of their retreat was still extending northward. There is no end in sight.

The sentry cavalry of the Xuanfu army, who were exploring to the west, reported that the footprints of the retreating troops of the Qing army extended to the west of the Xiaoling River and crossed the pontoon bridge. Yebushou did not dare to cross the pontoon bridge for fear of the Qing army stationed on the other side.

Although it is still not possible to find out the specific movements of the Qing army and clearly grasp its whereabouts, it is fully certain that Dorgon, Daishan and others in the west of Jinzhou City must have retreated.

In fact, the Ming army is also very difficult at the moment. This heavy snowfall came too suddenly. Among the soldiers of the Ming army, only a few generals and their family members have cotton-padded jackets and jackets, but ordinary soldiers are still wearing single clothes. .

So, how could they resist the biting cold wind, they all hid in the military tents, or dug out snow nests here and there to avoid the wind and cold.

Of course, some daikon radishes were also put in those pots of mutton, for tonic in winter, besides ginseng chicken soup, this mutton radish is the most useful.

It can be said that among the armies that aided Liao, the Xuanfu army led by Zhang Cheng was the most outstanding one. And there is only him, Zhang Chenger.

The same was true for Wu Sangui who was sitting below him. He didn't seem to care much about the opinions of the people, as if he had a plan in mind. He chatted with Zhang Cheng from time to time, but he didn't seem interested in other people.

Zhang Cheng sat at the first place on the right, but he never participated in the discussion among the people. He drank wine and ate meat on his own, and occasionally took a sip of chicken soup, especially the radish stewed in the mutton bowl, which was his favorite.

For example, Chen Jiugao, Wang Pu and others thought so, and Zhang Dou, the military constable, and Yao Gong, the procuratorate, also supported this idea very much, but it was the focus of today's discussion to keep the soldiers and horses outside Jinzhou City.

Two miles to the south of Jinzhou City, inside the North Gate of Tucheng City, Governor of Jiliao Hong Chengchou was inside the temporary camp. Several stoves were burning vigorously, and the steaming heat was blowing towards the face. It was like a world apart from the cold outside.

Suddenly, Hong Chengchou coughed from the upper position, and everyone naturally knew that this was the prelude to the governor's speech, so they kept silent. Even Zhang Cheng put down the wine bowl in his hand and looked up at Hong Chengchou.

In fact, the officers and men of the battalions in Liao Town already had cotton coats, but it was just a temporary transfer. However, this time, Wu Sangui was able to steal the limelight. At least in the heart of the eunuch Wang Chengen, Wu Sangui's status had been highlighted.

Zhang Cheng didn't know what he meant, the reason why he didn't make a statement on the matter of staying in Jinzhou was actually because he didn't want to compete with Wu Sangui for the honor.

Originally thinking that he had fought hard for two days, the soldiers were already exhausted, so he wanted to take the opportunity to retreat to the outside of Songshan Fort, so that the soldiers of the battalions in Datong Town could rest for a while.

Under the attention of everyone, Hong Chengchou said slowly: "Although the slave bandits retreat temporarily, they are still coming at any time, and their whereabouts are unknown at present. We must leave an army outside Jinzhou City to deal with the city's defense. "

All the officials and generals gathered here tonight, naturally they came for the retreat of the Qing army.

The fight is no longer about killing and wounding the opponent, but about whose patience is stronger, whose stamina is longer, and who can wear it out to the end. If you persist until the end, you will win!
At present, although the Qing army has retreated ahead of schedule, it does not dare to conclude that the Ming army must have won.

But the civil and military present here are all very convinced of the abilities of the Xuanfu army's sentry cavalry, and naturally no one has any objection. The focus of the question now is what should the Ming army's battalions do?
All the officers and generals had already argued for a while, and they all said that it was hard for the troops to enter the city of Jinzhou, and they must not retreat easily, but now the north wind is blowing, most of the soldiers have no cotton clothes to protect themselves, and it is very hard to camp in this wilderness.

In the battle to aid Liao this time, the Xuanfu army led by Zhang Cheng made many military exploits, especially in the battles of Changling Mountain and Gaoqiao, not only killing and wounding many Tartars, but also beheading the slave thief Prince Yu Duoduo. , It can be said to be the first time in the world!
Now, in the battle of crossing the river to relieve the siege of Jinzhou, his Xuanfu army was the first to attack the city of Jinzhou and drive back the slaves. Naturally, his Xuanfu army was the first to break the siege of Jinzhou.

Only Qiu Minyang, the governor of Liaodong, who sits on the south bank of the Xiaoling River, did not dare to leave lightly because of the confrontation with Shuotuo's Manchurian Zhenghong Banner, Yao Gong, the deputy envoy of the Yongping Military Road and Inspection Department of Shandong Yongping, and Wang Tingchen, the former chief of the garrison guards. They were still stationed on the south bank of the Daughter River, but they failed to come to Tucheng.

When he said this, his eyes turned around the generals on the right side of the lower head. Zhang Cheng and Wu Sangui generally didn't think so, Cao Bianjiao didn't change his face, but Wang Pu and Chen Jiugao's eyes were erratic, for fear that Hong Chengchou would choose him to lead the army stay.

Seeing that Zhang Cheng took the initiative to ask Ying to stay on the Xiaoling River to guard the safety of the pontoon bridge, Wang Pu, the general of Datong, was most disturbed. Can you not panic.

After he finished speaking, he took a sip of tea, then looked at Wu Sangui, and said, "General Changbo's willingness to invite Ying Ying is a testament to his loyalty and dedication to the king's affairs. Let's make a note here for now. When we return to the capital, we will hear about it. The emperor knows."

But now he looked at Zhang Cheng from afar with bitter eyes, but he didn't dare to say a word, for fear of being reminded of the words of declaring the unity of the greatness that had been shining through before.

However, after the snow stopped and the wind stopped at this moment, it gave people the feeling that there was no heavy snow flying, and the coldness when the north wind was howling could barely withstand it.

"Minister Zhang, Zhang Cheng is willing to lead the troops of Xuanfu to guard the pontoon bridge on the Xiaoling River for our Jin army, so as to ensure that the passage between Songshan and Jinzhou is not lost."

On the bonfire in the Xingyuan hall was a large iron pot, in which mutton and horse meat were stewed, and there was also a pot of ginseng chicken soup. Although Liaodong is a place of bitter cold, it is the only wild ginseng that is not lacking.

After Hong Chengchou heard Wu Sangui's words, although his face remained unchanged, he had already given Wu Sangui full marks in his heart. He turned his head to look at Wang Chengen and said, "Ningyuan General Wu please stay in Jinzhou to prevent the slaves from returning. What does the prince think?"

Li Song, the trusted staff member of Hong Chengchou, governor of Jiliao, had already briefed everyone on the current situation just now, although the information about the movements of the Qing army came from the Xuanfu army's night guards.

And the great eunuch Wang Cheng'en has also come to the front line of Tucheng, and Zhang Ruoqi, the commander-in-chief who sits in the Nanniangniang Palace of Songshan Fort, also came to Tucheng with Zhang Dou, the former soldier of Ning, and handed over all the responsibilities of defending the mouth of the Xiaoling River. To Li Fuming, General Soldier of Shanxi.

Since Wang Chengen's arrival, Zhang Ruoqi's status has plummeted, and he has lost the qualification to sit side by side with Governor Hong Chengchou of Jiliao.

The soldiers of the Ming army battalions who were sent out gathered in front of piles of bonfires, and those patrolling soldiers were fortunate enough to be able to take turns wearing the pitiful padded jackets when they went out on patrol.

The governor of Jiliao Hong Chengchou's eyes stopped on Zhang Cheng, the chief soldier of Xuanfu, and continued to ask the crowd: "However, the pontoon bridge on the Xiaoling River is the lifeblood of Jinzhou, and it is the link between Songshan and Jinzhou. We must not miss it."

It's time to compete for who can persevere better, persevere in the howling north wind, persevere in the cold snowy night, persevere in the hunger and cold caused by insufficient grain.

What's more, there are still Qing soldiers and horses stationed in the north and east of Jinzhou City. They are guarding the line of defense formed by the three trenches and low walls.

However, Zu Dashou did not appear in the governor's office. He was replaced by Deputy General Zu Dabi. Everyone speculated that Zu Dashou must be injured, so he sent his younger brother to attend the military meeting on his behalf.

…………

Hong Chengchou saw that he had finished speaking, so he said to the generals: "General Changbo shared the country's worries, and asked to be stationed at the foot of Jinzhou City. The governor is very pleased, and he must gather enough cotton clothes for the soldiers of Ningyuan to protect against the cold winter."

Fortunately, all the officials and generals used their lives and fought bravely in front of the battle to repel the slaves. The soldiers arrived at the city of Jinzhou and solved the siege of Jinzhou. "

Although cotton-padded clothes had been shipped from Ningyuan and Gaoqiao to Songshan Fort before, they were not delivered to the front line of Jinzhou for a while, and although there were some cotton-padded clothes in stock in Songshan Fort, the quantity was limited, and each battalion only shared some and shared them. Not enough for wearing.

All the generals of the Xuan army gathered here, even Wu Sangui, the commander of Ningyuan, Chen Jiugao, the commander of the front battalion of Shenji Battalion, and Cao Bianjiao, the commander of the East Association, also came all the way.

"Cough cough."

Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, and Wang Chengen, the inner supervisor, sat side by side at the top, and naturally there were Wen left and Wu right at the bottom. There was a small table in front of each person, on which wine and meat, chicken soup, and mutton soup were placed.

But the Tazi army has already retreated, even if it is possible to come again, it will take time to march and build a camp, so someone proposed to withdraw part of the army and return to the old camp near Songshan to garrison. They can also rest.

It can be said that "winter has come"!
It was the most difficult time for the soldiers of the Ming and Qing armies. Now the fight is no longer about who can kill more troops of the other side, so as to defeat the other side.

After Hong Chengchou glanced around, his eyes stopped on Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of the Ningyuan Regiment. Wu Sangui's brain is so clever, and the pair of eyes is exactly what Hong Chengchou meant.

But now Governor Hong Chengchou's meaning is very obvious, Zhang Cheng can't completely avoid it, but he just sat on his seat, never got up to answer like Wu Sangui.

Wang Chengen did not drink and eat meat like everyone else. There was only a pot of tea and a few exquisite pastries on the table beside him. Our family doesn't understand the matter very well, Governor Hong can make his own decision."

Although he was a little upset in his heart, he still had to appear willing on the surface, after all, even he didn't dare to offend the needless man above.

He paused at this point before continuing: "Our family will keep all of your performances in mind. If you have contributed to the country, naturally your achievements will not be buried. When our family returns to the capital, we will hear about them one by one. The emperor knows."

If this battle is not victorious, the court's money and food will be wasted, the army will be lost, and the general will be lost, what kind of face will we live in the world?

Seeing the retreat of the Qing army, some voices began to appear in the battalions, saying that now that the Tartars have retreated, they are still guarding here to suffer from hunger and cold, which seems to be a bit of reluctance.

Because the Qing army may be short of food and grain, it retreats to eat elsewhere. Once it gets a rest, it may still return to the city of Jinzhou at any time.

At this moment, Wang Chengen coughed a few more times, cleared his throat, and then continued: "The matter of Jinzhou, the emperor is most worried. I, the army who can fight and dare to fight in Ming Dynasty, gathered here, and transferred the money and food of the whole country to support the crisis in Liaodong. .

Therefore, Zhang Cheng was not very concerned about staying outside the city of Jinzhou, and another reason was that Wu Sangui was the nephew of Zu Dashou, and he should have come to stay outside the city of Jinzhou both in public and privately.

After Wang Chengen finished speaking, he didn't care about the crowd, and drank tea on his own.

He got up and clasped his fists and said to Hong Chengchou, "Director Hong, Sangui is willing to lead the troops from Ningyuan Town to stay outside Jinzhou City."

However, Wang Pu was obviously more worried than that. Everyone didn't want to take his meaning. They just heard Governor Hong Chengchou say: "Okay. Zhongchen deserves to be the "No. Rise up and strive to be the first in the battlefield, brave and invincible.

It is not only on the military strategy, but also every time you make suggestions, there are many unique things, and you can take the overall situation into consideration. This governor is very optimistic about you. "

Zhang Cheng smiled slightly, cupped his fists and replied: "The governor is too famous, Zhang Cheng is just doing his duty, the only thing in his heart is to report to the emperor, and he dare not think about other things."

At this moment, the great eunuch Wang Chengen couldn't help looking up at Zhang Cheng, but seeing that his eyebrows were downcast, without any trace of affectation, he couldn't help nodding his head slightly, thinking: The emperor really saw Zhang Cheng right!
Even Hong Chengchou, governor of Jiliao, was very satisfied with Zhang Cheng's answer. A rare smile appeared on his usually calm face, and he said to Zhang Cheng, "Don't worry about loyalty, your officers and men of the Xuanfu are stationed by the Xiaoling River. Cotton clothes will be prepared for the soldiers to keep out the cold."

Zhang Cheng just thanked him with a smile, but he didn't mention that he had delivered a batch of cotton clothes from Xuanfu!