The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 401: Feint to the east? Attack the west?
"The Ming army gathered a large force to attack Xiangyintun. The frontline defenders could not hold out and suffered heavy casualties. We request reinforcements."

"The Ming army gathered at Rufeng Mountain and mobilized heavy artillery to bombard the East and West Stone Gates. Scouts reported that the Ming army had gathered more than 5,000 soldiers and horses west of Rufeng Mountain. Judging from their flags, they are soldiers from Ningyuan and Liaodong, preparing to launch an attack on our Shanxi camp!"

Daughter, Henan, Qing army camp.

Under the yellow Qing Khan flag.

A group of soldiers from the guard camp, dressed in yellow clothes and covered in iron armor, stood outside.

They were wearing heavy armor, carrying swords and bows, and bone belts on their waists. They were armed almost to the teeth from head to toe. Even their necks were covered with throat guards. The only visible part of their bodies was the area around their eyes.

They are the guards of the Zhenghuang Banner.

They were the imperial guards that protected the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

And their emperor was standing on the observation deck on the top of the mountain, overlooking the entire battlefield.

Huang Taiji wore a golden helmet and gilded armor. He pressed his hand on the railing, looking at the fighting in the distance with a frown.

The confident look of yesterday was no longer on his face, and the certainty of victory was no longer in his heart.

The help that came from Shengjing overnight consumed Huang Taiji's already limited energy.

Even after resting for a few days, Huang Taiji's condition did not recover.

He is no longer the brave general who used to ride a horse and shoot arrows left and right.

Now just riding on the horse made Huang Taiji feel a little tired.

His health was deteriorating, and he became obese as he grew older. He was no longer as brave as he used to be.

But the ambition in my heart has not been completely extinguished...

The sound of hurried horse hooves can be heard in my ears.

The constant sounds of horse hooves were all news coming from the camps.

Most of these messages were about the Ming army's attack and requests for reinforcements.

There’s more…

That is, which officers and soldiers of each flag died in battle, and which ministers died.

"The Ming Dynasty's Datong garrison troops attacked Changling Shandong Camp, and Lord Zhangguli... was killed by the Ming general Ma Yaozi..."

Huang Taiji subconsciously gripped the railing in front of him.

The location of the Changling Shandong camp was crucial, so he sent Zhangguli to guard it.

Zhangguli has 500 guards and more than 3,000 soldiers.

"It's this bastard again!"

An attendant minister on the observation deck sighed subconsciously.

Everyone had different expressions, most of them looked afraid.

Ma Yaozi, a Ming general currently under the command of Datong Town, was known to us through inquiries from various sources as Wang Fuchen.

Wang Fuchen was just a servant of Wang Jinchao, the lieutenant general of Datong Town.

He had been relatively inconspicuous in previous battles, and only recently became famous.

Xiangyintun is a place of vital importance.

Xiangyintun and Lime Kiln are two strongholds that the Ming army must pass through if they want to cross the trench.

Therefore, Huang Taiji arranged the elite troops of the two white flags, totaling more than 4,000 people, led by Ajige, to guard Xiangyintun.

At the same time, 3,000 soldiers from the Han Army Flag were drawn out and put under the leadership of Kong Youde to assist in the defense, and part of the artillery team was transferred to Xiangyintun.

They had abundant firepower, strong armor and sharp weapons. Not far away, there were 3,000 cavalrymen from the two blue flags of Mongolia to assist in the defense, totaling 10,000 people.

The small Xiangyintun can indeed be said to be as solid as a rock.

The Ming army's first attack also proves this point.

The Ming troops that attacked Xiangyintun were the Datong Town troops under Jiang Ge and the Dongxie troops under Bai Guangen.

The soldiers under Kong Youde were widely equipped with firearms, while the elite soldiers of the two white flags under Ajige were mostly armed with strong bows and hard arrows, and took advantage of the terrain.

Although the attacking troops from Datong Town and Dongxie fought desperately, they were ultimately unable to break through the Qing army's defense line.

The Mongolian cavalry on the flank took advantage of the situation and attacked, and the Ming army's formation gradually became chaotic.

Ajige had been through hundreds of battles and had a very keen sense of the battlefield, otherwise he would not have been entrusted with such an important task by Huang Taiji.

Seeing that the Ming army's formation was in chaos, he made a prompt decision and ordered his troops to attack, preparing to defeat the Ming army in one fell swoop.

But once the military order was issued, the situation on the battlefield changed suddenly.

A group of brave cavalrymen rushed out from the Ming army's Datong Town formation. They were all wearing Ming armor and helmets, and looked like snow-capped mountains.

The knights on horseback shot arrows left and right like locusts. In an instant, the Mongolian cavalry who were attacking from the flank fell to the ground like clouds, and their offensive was halted.

Then, that team of brave cavalry charged straight into the Mongolian cavalry formation of the two blue flags, and cut through the Mongolian cavalry formation like a sharp knife.

In an instant, the flags of the two blue flags of the Mongolian cavalry fell down and the cavalry formation collapsed.

Ajige led the troops in the front and saw in front of the formation that among the Ming army's brave cavalry, the leader was holding a lance and riding a yellow horse, and he destroyed everything wherever he went.

At the same time, the troops of Datong Town and Dongxie stopped their retreat and held their ground, using artillery carts as barricades and firing their guns and cannons.

The offensive of the troops that went out of the camp to pursue the vanguard was temporarily blocked.

Without the protection of the shield cart, the flesh and blood body is completely vulnerable to the fire of guns and cannons.

Ajige knew that the time had passed and prepared to withdraw his troops and fight again.

However, that team of brave cavalry defeated the cavalry of the two blue flags of Mongolia and did not even return to the formation, but went straight to where Ajige was.

Ajige was shocked and angry, and immediately ordered his attendants and guards to fight.

The attacking Ming cavalry consisted of no more than a hundred men, while the number of armored cavalry under his command exceeded three hundred.

However, the battle did not go as Ajige had imagined. The guards' armored cavalry crushed and defeated the attacking Ming cavalry.

On the contrary, the armored cavalry of the guards who went to fight were actually suppressed by the Ming cavalry. Only when more troops arrived did the Ming cavalry finally retreat.

When retreating, the troops wanted to pursue.

The Ming general riding a yellow horse led a dozen cavalrymen to cover the rear. Anyone who dared to approach within thirty steps was shot down by them, without exception.

The riders were terrified and dared not move forward.

After Ajige withdrew his troops and returned to the camp, he counted the casualties.

The guards lost 43 armored cavalrymen, the vanguard lost more than 170 men in pursuit, and one lieutenant commander of the two blue flags of Mongolia was killed, bringing the total number of casualties to more than 300.

After the first battle, the casualties exceeded five hundred.

The Canling, also known as the Jiala Zhangjing, was already an important officer in the Eight Banners.

Such heavy casualties are not a big deal; what is more important is the blow to morale.

In subsequent battles, whenever that wise general went into battle, all the soldiers were terrified.

No one dared to confront him, not even the Manchu and Mongolian soldiers, who, seeing the yellow horses galloping towards them from afar, all fled and did not dare to engage in battle.

From then on, Wang Fuchen served as the vanguard in every attack by the Datong Town troops.

Wang Fuchen's reputation gradually became equal to that of Cao Wenzhao.

As the general of a town, Cao Wenzhao would not easily charge into battle.

But Wang Fuchen was different. He was just a family servant, so he often broke into the battle line.

Huang Taiji frowned, this situation was not good.

The Ming army was incompetent in field battles but good at defense. Due to the influence of military morale, they dared to fight most of the time relying on the city walls.

But now, as the war continues, this situation is beginning to reverse.

The Ming army was trapped in a tight encirclement and had no choice but to fight a desperate battle. Even though they suffered a defeat in the field battle, they were still able to ensure that the army formation was not too disorderly.

Moreover, there were not only Wang Fuchen and Cao Wenzhao on the battle line, but also some brave generals of the Ming army in many other places who caused them considerable trouble.

The Ming army that aided Songjin was originally the elite selected from various towns. After aiding Liao, it experienced several bloody battles and was no longer the same as before.

Most importantly, after the Battle of Qingshan Pass, the morale of the Ming army stabilized a lot, and they were no longer as timid as before.

Thinking of the Battle of Qingshan Pass, Huang Taiji's heart was filled with more gloom. Tan Tai was his right-hand man, and almost half of the Bayala Guards of the Zhenghuang Banner were killed in the Battle of Qingshan Pass.

The strength of the Zhenghuang Banner has been greatly reduced as a result, to the point that it is now gradually unable to suppress the princes and nobles under it.

Nowadays, on the Songjin line.

Huang Taiji was under tremendous pressure to mobilize troops from all over the country for a desperate fight.

Because of the final defeat in the Wuyin Rebellion, the Mongolian tribes were already dissatisfied.

The defeat at Rufeng Mountain had kept the morale of the Ming army high;

The Han soldiers under the Han Army Banner were in a state of anxiety and even deserted several times. There were quite a few deserters who fled into the Ming army camp.

Only by sending Manchu soldiers to patrol the camp day and night could such a situation no longer occur.

The current situation is extremely unfavorable for them.

Moreover, a secret agent lurking in the Ming army had recently sent in a tip-off.

The Ming army did not plan to break out, but wanted to fight a desperate battle to lift the siege of Jinzhou.

"Where is Aobai?"

Huang Taiji felt depressed and his face looked even worse, and he shouted in a cold voice.

"Minion, here."

Behind the observation deck, Aobai walked forward with the gait of a dragon and a tiger, stretched out his hands and quickly brushed off his sleeves on both sides, then took a half step forward with his left leg, bent his left knee forward, bent his right knee backward, leaned forward and lowered his head, let his right hand hang down, and answered in a muffled voice.

"Xiangyintun is of vital importance to our army. You lead a battalion of the Bordered Yellow Banner Guards to provide assistance."

"No matter what, we must not let the Ming army capture Xiangyintun."

"This slave accepts the order!"

Aobai half-knelt on the ground and accepted the order in a deep voice.

Then he raised his head and looked at Huang Taiji, saying in a grim tone.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. If that thief dares to attack me again, I will kill him and present his head to Your Majesty!"

Huang Taiji nodded slightly, and his tense heartstrings relaxed a lot.

Oboi was skilled in archery and horse riding, extremely brave, strong and prudent.

In the early stage of the Battle of Songjin, the right wing commanded by Jirgalang suffered a defeat, but it was Oboi who led the guards to arrive in time and defeated the pursuing Ming cavalry.

Afterwards, Abahai decisively decided to pursue the victory. Before reaching the Ming army's infantry position, he ordered his subordinates to dismount and fight on foot, and defeated the Ming army again.

Oboi led the charge and won five battles.

In the end, it was not until Cao Wenzhao led his troops to arrive that the Ming army was able to stabilize its position.

Even so, Oboi still led the troops of the Guard Camp to fight and retreat, and finally evacuated safely.

"Adai, lead your troops and head to Jinzhou."

Watching Oboi leading his troops away, Huang Taiji once again deployed his troops.

"Gong Adai, you lead your troops to rush to Jinzhou to provide assistance and station at the East and West Shimen gates."

As military orders were issued one after another, the Qing army camp in Changling Mountain was in chaos in an instant.

Team after team of Qing soldiers slowly stepped out of the camp gates on all four sides, with flags waving and drums beating, and they marched towards the battlefield under the command of officers at all levels.

The sun sets in the west.

In the distance, the setting sun was blood-red, and the crimson sunset covered half of the sky.

As more and more armored soldiers poured out of the camp.

As a result, the Changlingshan camp soon became much emptier.

The boiling camp eventually became settled.

The light slowly faded.

Darkness gradually began to cover the earth.

The twinkling lights gradually became brighter above the mountains and fields of Songjin.

"His Majesty."

On the observation deck, Grand Secretary Turge stepped forward.

"Your Majesty is worth a fortune, but now you are dispatching troops to help various places. There are only 3,000 soldiers and 500 guards left in the Changlingshan camp. Isn't it too weak?"

"It doesn't matter."

Huang Taiji waved his hand indifferently.

"If the Ming army wants to enter Changling Mountain, they must first cross the two camps at the foot of the mountain. With Duoduo in the right camp and Dudu in the left camp, there is no way they will fail."

Putting aside the political views of Duoduo and Dudu, both of them are experienced generals, and they lead the elite soldiers of their own flag. With them guarding the flanks, Changling Mountain can be completely safe.

While we were talking, the sound of horse hooves could be heard again.

Huang Taiji subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound and saw a messenger cavalryman carrying three command flags galloping towards him.

Huang Taiji's expression changed slightly, and the Qing army officers on the observation deck also looked solemn.

"Secret report from Songshan!"

The tightly sealed intelligence was directly handed over to Huang Taiji.

Huang Taiji's eyes were first puzzled, then turned into shock, then into relief, and finally into great joy.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Huang Taiji felt happy and laughed out loud towards the sky, his face showing his joy.

The ministers on the observation deck looked puzzled.

Huang Taiji is a very shrewd person and such a situation is extremely rare. Something earth-shattering must have happened.

But they didn't need to guess, because Huang Taiji was already waving the letter in his hand.

"Everyone!"

Huang Taiji's voice was deep and powerful, no longer weak and low as before.

On the observation deck, the blazing flames flickered constantly in the strong wind.

It shone on the gilded armor on Huang Taiji's body, making it look extremely dazzling.

"The Ming army is trying to escape!"

As Huang Taiji finished speaking, the expressions of the Qing army officers on the watchtower also changed rapidly.

First there was disbelief, and then there was relaxing ecstasy.

"Hahahahaha."

Huang Taiji felt happy and said.

"The Ming army has been showing a desperate posture these days, and has gathered heavy troops outside Jinzhou City, all of which are just attempts to make a feint to the east and attack in the west."

"Their real purpose is to break out and weaken our forces around the trenches."

During these days, there were many movements of the Ming army that puzzled Huang Taiji.

This letter of information sent from Songshan made Huang Taiji's vision extremely clear.

The Ming army did not have the courage or conditions to fight to the death, so they wanted to escape.

With only the food and grass in Songshan, the Ming army had no way of holding out for long.

Being trapped in Songshan, they could only sit and wait for death, like a turtle in a jar with nowhere to go.

"Send a message to Aobai to lead the guards to the lime kiln after nightfall."

"Tell Dudu and Duoduo to send two Niulu from their command to the lime kiln as well."

"Order again, Shang Kexi and Geng Zhongming to lead their troops to the rear of the lime kiln at nightfall, and lie in ambush behind the trench to serve as the rear guard."

Huang Taiji's eyes were grim and he spoke in a cold voice.

"Tomorrow, let the lime kiln become the burial place of the eight Ming troops and the birthplace of our Qing Dynasty!"