The ruthless emperor in the late Ming Dynasty forced Chongzhen to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 212 Chariots and Cavalry

"Your Majesty, it's already the tenth day. When will our army return?"

In the past ten days, except for a few probing attacks by Jiannu, there has been no movement. The British Duke and other generals feel that there is no need to stay any longer.

After all, the army is far away from the pass, and the news has been completely blocked by the Jiannu cavalry. If it takes too long, it will easily cause panic in the country.

"Let's set off tomorrow!"

Zhu Cilang sighed, and said somewhat unwillingly.

The reason why they are reluctant to leave is because they are looking for a chance to fight. After all, the army of Jiannu has gathered here. If they can hit them hard in one fell swoop, it will be much easier to attack Liaodong and conquer Mongolia in the future.

But the premise is to ensure your own safety. If you need to take risks, it is not worth it. If the other party does not take the initiative to attack, you can only give up.

Retreating is always several times more dangerous than attacking, especially when withdrawing troops under the eyes of the opponent's hundreds of thousands of cavalry and infantry. In this case, it may be difficult for any Han army in history to dare to withdraw.

But Zhu Cihong was full of confidence in this.

The next day, the camp of the Chinese army made meals at the third watch and pulled out the camp at the fifth watch. More than [-] soldiers, soldiers, households, and civilians were busy from early morning to noon before loading all the tents and materials into vehicles.

Following Zhu Cihuang's order, three hundred light and heavy chariots were lined up, rolling forward slowly, followed closely by the cavalry.

The ten battalions of the Chinese army are divided into left and right wings, and they all line up. The [-] imperial forest troops are in the back, and there are a large number of logistics and artisan military households in the middle.

The speed of the army is like a snail.

The two battalions of infantry on the left and right are ready for defense, and the cavalry chariots are on standby, ready to attack at any time.

This time Dorgon brought a full [-] real Eight Banners warriors, and approached about ten miles from the north. Looking at the Ming army slowly moving in the distance, his clenched sword loosened and tightened, tightened and loosened again.

"Oboi, you can try it from the flank with the Zhenghuang flag, remember that you must not force it, you understand?"

"Scum!"

Immediately, Oboi ordered five thousand cavalry to charge forward, and for a while, the sound of horseshoes shook the whole field.

"kill!"

"Report, Your Majesty, the slave cavalry charged from the north, with a strength of about [-]."

"Stop advancing and prepare for defense!"

With five thousand cavalry, Zhu Cihong decided to stop after thinking about it. Anyway, he was not in a hurry, so if Jiannu wanted to play, he could play with them.

With the sound of the trumpet, the army stopped immediately. The five phalanxes in the north all erected their spears and raised their shields.

As for the leading cavalry chariot, fifty chariots and [-] cavalry also rushed towards the murdered Oboi.

Seeing this, Obai had no choice but to turn around and face the cavalry chariot.

This was the first actual battle of the chariot, and Zhu Cihong was quite excited. He got out of the chariot, climbed onto the special mobile platform, and looked up.

Dorgon, who was far away, also came to a high ground. He has always been very concerned about Dorgon, the chariot of the Ming army, and is also very afraid.

After all, after Hong Chengchou's calculations, the threat of chariots to cavalry is still great in a frontal battle.

So I also want to see if the chariots of the Ming army can suppress their cavalry. If there is nothing to show, then there is a lot to do with 10,000+ cavalry.

"kill!"

Aobai didn't turn around, but went straight to meet him.

Fifty chariots lined up, and the two sides collided in an instant. Fifty chariots, like plowshares, plowed a ditch in Jiannu's cavalry team.

Countless war horses were cut by the two ends of the chariot's high-speed rotating axle, or the horse's stomach fell to the ground.

As for the halberd bearer on the carriage, the halberd in his hand was simply the scythe of death. Whether it was a horse or a cavalry, it would be terrible to be cut off, and there were also Tartar cavalry who risked their lives to hack and kill the horses.

After a melee, both sides suffered heavy losses. The Jiannu cavalry lost more than 20 cavalry, and the Ming army also damaged more than [-] chariots, and the loss of cavalry was also as high as [-].

"My lord, the opponent's chariot is very fast and stable, and the cavalry is at a disadvantage in frontal charge."

Aobai got off his horse in a rather embarrassing situation and fell to the ground.

"You idiot, who told you to attack head-on?"

Dole rolled his horsewhip and whipped it over. Although he knew that he had to charge directly if he wanted to test out the reality of the opponent's chariot, he was still so distressed that he died.

"Damn the slave." Obai had no choice but to bow his head obediently and be beaten.

"Let's go again, this time with a better idea." Dorgon just whipped his horsewhip, and said.

"Scum!"

Aobai had no choice but to get on his horse and go up again with the yellow flag inlaid with him.

The Ming army also dispatched fifty chariots and [-] cavalry again. This time when the two sides approached within one mile, the Jiannu cavalry chose to divide into two and launched a loafing shot.

The chariots of the Ming army also turned to pursue, and the cavalry was also divided into two. For a while, the two sides chased each other, and fell into a big melee.

Jiannu's cavalry chased the Ming army's cavalry and fired arrows, while the fifty chariots fought on their own, chasing Jiannu's cavalry, chasing and besieging them.

As a result, Jiannu's cavalry was frequently chased and collided by chariots, unable to effectively attack the Ming army's cavalry, they were simply here to make trouble.

Seeing this, Dorgon frowned. Although he didn't want to accept it, he had to admit that the Ming army's chariots combined with cavalry could really compete with their iron cavalry, at least in a short distance.

After two trials, Dorgon had no choice but to lead the cavalry back, knowing that the Ming army's chariots had made up for the lack of cavalry, and it might be difficult to take advantage of the cavalry alone.

Zhu Cihong didn't leave either, and simply set up camp on the spot, and then brought all the damaged chariots back for repairs.

Most of the damaged chariots had broken wheels and bent axles. As long as the axles were burnt red and hammered straight, replaced with two new wheels and equipped with new horses, they could continue to gallop. not big.

On the second day, the Chinese battalion defended and supported on the spot, and the left and right battalions began to move forward again. In this way, the three battalions took cover and advanced alternately. On average, they marched about ten miles a day.

With less than [-] Tartar cavalry, Zhu Cihong didn't bother to stop, but directly sent the chariot cavalry to fight.

The Tartar cavalry attacked the infantry, and the chariot cavalry directly charged the flank of the cavalry, and they didn't bother to chase or pester them.

Five days later, the Ming army finally pushed to the Jiannu cavalry [-] miles away. Dorgon in the rear led the main force, and also hung behind the Ming army all the time, keeping about a hundred miles away, and did not give the Ming army a chance to attack the camp.

"Prince Regent, the Ming army is too arrogant, the army must not give in, once it does, morale will plummet!"

"Yes, Prince Regent, let's just fight to the death with the Ming army. I don't believe that the Ming army can really block the charge of hundreds of thousands of my cavalry."

All the Eight Banners generals shouted one after another.

Dorgon's head was huge at the moment, and he was in a dilemma. If the cavalry refused to give way, in two days, a battle between the two sides would be inevitable, and it would be too motherly aggrieved to give way.

It is a great shame and humiliation for a hundred thousand iron cavalry to give way to infantry on the open grassland.

"Sir, what's your opinion?"

"This... back to the prince, he refused to detour tomorrow. It is obvious that he is ready for a big battle. If the cavalry refuses to give way, the army must speed up tomorrow. Two days later, it will be able to attack from both sides. As for whether to fight or let go, the prince himself will have to do it. Decide!"

Hong Chengchou pondered for a moment, then said slowly.

(End of this chapter)