The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

The sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

The first day of February.

Xuzhou.

With the fall of the capital, the entire territory of Beizhili (northern Zhili) fell.

Three of the six prefectures in Shandong were lost: Dongchang, Jinan, and Yanzhou.

Most of Qingzhou Prefecture was controlled by the Qing army, with only Rizhao and Andongwei on the southeast coast remaining under the control of the Ming army.

East of Xuzhou City, the Jingnan Army Camp.

Outside the central command tent, banners fluttered in the wind, and armored soldiers stood at attention.

Inside the tent, a huge map was laid out on the table, and the staff officer, holding a military report, was giving a solemn report.

"On the 21st day of the first month, after the Qing army captured the capital, they left more than 10,000 troops to defend the capital, while the rest went south. The intelligence department reported that the Qing army had divided into three routes and launched a major southward offensive, with a total of 130,000 troops."

At this moment, Chief of the General Staff Dai Shilin was holding military intelligence documents and reporting the latest military situation to Chen Wang.

Staff officers stood at attention on both sides, awaiting orders. The map, covered with dense markings, indicated the increasingly dire war situation.

Dai Shilin was from Yulin, Shaanxi. He was originally a cavalryman under Gao Yingxiang. After being captured in the Battle of Heishuiyu, he joined the Hanzhong army.

He distinguished himself in battle and rose through the ranks from squad leader to flag commander, and then served as centurion, battalion commander, and thousand-man commander.

During the Battle of Fuli Bridge, he led his troops to defeat the Wanmin Army in succession. Due to his military strategy and talent, he was promoted to the position of Central Army Commander and assisted in military affairs.

In November of the fourteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, Chen Wang reformed the military system, established a General Staff Department, and recruited staff officers from various battalions to join the General Staff Department.

Previously, the position of Chief of the General Staff was held by Chen Gong and Hu Zhili.

However, as the two men took up their posts as battalion commanders, the position of chief of staff fell to Dai Shilin.

Dai Shilin had not received a formal military officer education; his ancestors were all soldiers in the Imperial Guard, which is why he joined the ranks of the peasant uprising.

However, Dai Shilin was extremely talented in military strategy, and many of his proposed strategies were so brilliant that they impressed Chen Wang.

It was precisely for this reason that Chen Wangcai ultimately handed over the important position of Chief of the General Staff to Dai Shilin.

"The Western Route Army, led by Hauge, divided the Plain Blue and Bordered Blue Banners, with 30,000 troops. It set out from the capital, passed through Baoding and Zhengding, and headed south to Daming Prefecture, intending to take over the three prefectures of Henan."

Dai Shilin held up his command whip and slowly swept it across the map, pointing to Baoding and Zhengding.

"Due to the impact of the previous epidemic, Zhangde and Weihui prefectures were severely affected, so only a little over a thousand soldiers remained in the two prefectures to assist in the defense."

"Considering the strength of the Qing army in the western route and the importance of the two prefectures, the General Staff believes that our army can abandon the two prefectures of Zhangde and Weihui."

Dai Shilin lightly tapped the northern part of Henan with his command whip and continued speaking.

"Of course, if we retreat to the south of the Yellow River, the Qing army can advance unhindered and cross the river at multiple points. Our army and the limited forces in Henan Province will find it difficult to shield us from Qing army raids."

"Two battalions of elite troops should be dispatched to Huaiqing Prefecture under the command of a strong general to protect Huaiqing as a western barrier. At the same time, three battalions of troops should be dispatched to Yangwu, Yanjin, and Fengqiu to serve as an eastern barrier."

"However, with such an arrangement, relying solely on the troops within Henan Province is insufficient to support the entire war effort."

Currently, Jingnan Town in Henan Province has only two divisions of troops.

The first part is the First Division of Henan Town, commanded by Chen Ming, with a strength of 15,000 men. They are currently guarding the Tongguan area and are basically tied down in place by the Shun army.

The other part is the Fourth Division of Henan Town, commanded by Sun Qiyun, with a strength of about 12,000 men, which is currently stationed along the Kaifeng line.

Sun Qiyun's troops were third-line forces, mostly reorganized from the original Henan militia. They lacked weaponry and were relatively weak in combat. Their original duty was simply to stop the spread of the epidemic to the south.

Even after a considerable period of training, the reorganization and retraining of the Jingnan Army were basically completed.

However, facing an attack from the Qing army now would be quite difficult.

Chen Wang stood before the table displaying maps, gazing in the direction of Henan.

He had controlled Henan for a long time and managed it for a long time.

Chen Wang knew clearly that after the seventeenth year of Chongzhen's reign, the national disaster situation would gradually ease and the drought would gradually subside.

As a province with abundant farmland, Henan naturally became a major production base in Jingnan Town.

Although the Southern Kingdom is now under his control.

However, food supplies are also lost on the way, and the closer they are to the front lines, the less they are lost.

Now that the Qing army occupies the north and the Shun army occupies the northwest, the battle line is in Shaanxi and along the Yellow River. Naturally, it is cheaper and more convenient to use grain from Henan.

Moreover, Henan is located in the heart of the Central Plains, a strategic stronghold, and has always been a battleground for military strategists, so it must not be lost.

Once Henan is lost, the Qing army, occupying it, can threaten Hanzhong, Huguang, and Southern Zhili from multiple directions.

Chen Wang's gaze swept over each of the assembled generals.

He needs a capable general who can lead an army independently and whose troops are strong to guard Henan.

After much deliberation, Chen Wang finally made a decision.

"Zuo Guangxian."

The moment Chen Wang called out his name, Zuo Guangxian stepped forward with his fists clasped.

"The end will be here."

Today, Jingnan Town can be described as a place teeming with talent and has no shortage of capable leaders.

Chen Gong, Li Dingguo, Cao Bianjiao, and others were all top-notch generals.

Zuo Liangyu, Gao Jie, Chen Yongfu, Gao Qian, and others were all seasoned veterans with rich experience on the battlefield.

However, only Zuo Guangxian possessed the ability to stand alone and had elite troops under his command who could stabilize the situation.

"The Qing army is sweeping south with great force, and is poised to take Hanoi, threatening my heartland in the Central Plains. I need you to defend Yanjin."

Chen Wang looked at Zuo Guangxian, who had stepped forward, and said solemnly.

Zuo Guangxian lowered his head slightly, his eyes filled with fighting spirit, and respectfully accepted the order.

"Rest assured, General, if the Qing army attacks, I will lead my troops to repel them!"

During the Wuyin Incident, Zuo Guangxian, leading his Qin soldiers, fought several battles against the Qing army. He was fearless then, and now, commanding the elite troops of Hanzhong Town, he is naturally full of ambition.

Chen Wang nodded slightly. Zuo Guangxian had already proven his ability in the battle of Yangzhou. There wouldn't be too many changes in Henan. Chen Wang turned to look at Dai Shilin and gestured for him to continue reporting.

However, Dai Shilin lowered his head slightly and did not continue to report, but instead asked a question.

"With Commander Zuo guarding Yanjin, Yanjin is indeed invincible, but who does the General Commander want to guard Huaiqing?"

"If the General wants Chen Ming to defend Huaiqing, Chen Ming's forces are weak. If he divides his troops, I'm afraid Tongguan will be lost."

Chen Wang shook his head and said slowly.

“Huaiqing is located in northwestern Henan. After Yanjin, it is still too early for the Qing army to reach Huaiqing when they march south.”

"I have ordered the Fifth Division under the command of Hanzhong to cross Henan from Hanzhong and advance to Huaiqing within a specified period."

Dai Shilin's mind raced, and he wholeheartedly submitted.

"I admire the overall planning and arrangements made by the General Manager."

Chen Wang glanced at Zuo Guangxian and saw the puzzled look on Zuo Guangxian's face. Then he smiled and explained.

"It's normal that you don't know what's happening in Hanzhong Prefecture, as it's too far from Yangzhou."

"The rebel army has occupied Shaanxi, and many defeated soldiers from Qin have fled south. I have instructed Zhiyi to select the strongest men and recruit good men from Hanzhong Prefecture to form a division." "I have already ordered this division to march north to aid Henan. At that time, this division will also be under your command."

Chen Wang seemed to have thought of something.

"By the way, you also know the commander of the newly formed Fifth Division. You two are old acquaintances."

Zuo Guangxian was slightly taken aback, and his doubts deepened.

Chen Wang didn't keep them in suspense any longer and explained everything clearly to Zuo Guangxian directly.

"So the General Commander refers to You Shiwei."

A smile appeared on Zuo Guangxian's face, and then he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"If the You brothers lead their troops to Huaiqing to provide support, and the Qing army raids south, as long as the General allows, I dare to confront the Qing army and will surely behead the bandit chieftain Hauge and present his head to the General!"

Zuo Guang raised his hand and slammed it heavily against the breastplate, declaring boldly.

When the officers and soldiers in the tent heard You Shiwei's name, there was a stir and they began to discuss it amongst themselves.

Zuo Liangyu, in particular, also showed some expression on his face.

You Shiwei, also from Yulin, was known for his bravery along with his elder brother You Shigong and younger brother You Shilu.

You Shiwei was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commander of Jianchang Camp and then transferred to guard Qiangzi Road.

Seven years later, he was transferred to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Central Region of the Mountains and Seas.

When Ningyuan was alerted, Commander Man Gui rushed to its aid. He fought valiantly in the eastern part of the city and was rewarded with a promotion.

Afterwards, You Shiwei first followed Hong Chengchou, and then Lu Xiangsheng, successively suppressing bandits and resisting slaves, accumulating numerous merits.

After the Battle of Jiazhuang, Lu Xiangsheng was dismissed from his post, and You Shiwei was removed from office.

Historically, You Shiwei was summoned by Emperor Chongzhen in the fifteenth year of his reign and returned to Yulin. Later, when the rebel army entered Shaanxi, he was chosen by the people as their commander.

However, the situation was dire at the time. Although You Shiwei tried his best to gather troops in Yulin, he was no match for the rebel army and eventually died when the city fell.

However, this time You Shiwei was not in Yulin as he had in history.

The situation in the north was more critical at that time than in history.

After the Qin army suffered a major defeat at the hands of the rebel army, and the Qin army was in dire straits, Emperor Chongzhen remembered You Shiwei and immediately appointed him as the garrison commander of Yulin Town, leading the Yulin troops to reinforce Xi'an Prefecture.

You Shiwei was appointed to lead the troops from Yulin to aid Xi'an in a time of crisis.

However, the fall of Xi'an was too swift; so swift that Xi'an had already fallen just as You Shiwei arrived with his troops.

Riding high on their victory, the rebel army launched an attack. You Shiwei led his troops to resist, but they were ultimately defeated and forced to retreat.

You Shiwei then resisted all the way, intending to return north to Yulin, but the rebel army had already cut off his northward route.

You Shiwei then led his troops south to retreat, eventually being forced to retreat into the Shangluo area.

Subsequently, the rebel army launched a large-scale encirclement and suppression campaign. After weighing the pros and cons, You Shiwei led his troops to retreat from Shangluo to Huguang.

Chen Wang had no reason to refuse a general as brave, resourceful, and highly respected as You Shiwei.

Because of the rampage of the rebel army, a large number of people and defeated soldiers from Qin fled south.

Chen Wang then ordered Hu Zhiyi, who remained in Hanzhong Prefecture, to train another division of the new army, which was then placed under the command of You Shiwei.

"I have faith in the abilities of General Zuo and General You."

Chen Wang laughed and said.

"However, the current situation is complicated, and everything should still be focused on maintaining stability."

Zuo Guangxian looked somewhat regretful, but still clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"I will obey the General's orders."

As Zuo Guangxian returned to the ranks, Dai Zhenglin continued his report.

"The central army, led by Dorgon as the main general, commanded the Plain White, Bordered White, and Bordered Yellow Banners, with a combined force of 60,000 men. It was the main force of the Jurchens, marching south from the capital region, passing through Jinan Prefecture, and heading towards Yanzhou."

Chen Wang straightened up slightly. The troops led by Dorgon were undoubtedly the main force of the Qing army in terms of both configuration and strength.

"The spring floods have not yet arrived, and the Qing army can cross the river from multiple locations, so our army should not abandon the cities north of the Yellow River."

"The General Staff believed that two or more divisions should be stationed in Fengxian and Peixian as forward positions, and another division should be stationed in Shangqiu, Guide Prefecture, Henan Province, as a backup."

“At least one division should be stationed in Pizhou and Suqian to serve as a shield for Haizhou.”

"Xuzhou was taken as the central command, rushing to the aid of various places."

From a strategic perspective, there are not many problems with the General Staff's arrangement.

How many troops are currently available?

Chen Wang pondered for a moment and then asked.

After a moment's thought, Dai Shilin gave a specific answer.

"There are five towns under the command of the General Commander: Hanzhong, Henan, Huguang, Shandong, and Pingnan."

"The five divisions under Hanzhong Town have a total strength of 98,000 men. Among them, the second and third divisions are under the command of General Hu Zhiyi and are responsible for the defense of Hanzhong Prefecture."

"The Fourth and Fifth Divisions, as previously arranged by the General Headquarters, are deployed in Henan."

Dai Shilin held up his command whip and moved across the map between Hanzhong and Henan.

"Currently, only the First Division under the General Command, with 18,000 men, can be mobilized."

"There are seven divisions under the jurisdiction of Henan Town, with a total strength of 72,000 men. The First and Fourth Divisions are deployed in Henan and cannot be mobilized."

"The troops that can be mobilized are the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Divisions, totaling more than 55,000 men, plus 8,000 Kaifeng militiamen, for a total of 63,000 men."

Prior to the Battle of Yangzhou, the defense of Xuzhou had been controlled by Gao Qian.

Gao Qian led his Third Division and Kaifeng militia to defend Xuzhou. Not long after, due to the southward advance of the Qing army, Chen Wang ordered Chen Yongfu to lead his Second Division northward to reinforce Xuzhou.

Therefore, apart from the troops left behind, the troops in Henan Town are all concentrated near Xuzhou at this time.

Each division in Henan Town had 12,000 officers and soldiers. The Fifth Division should have had 60,000, but due to casualties and losses in the previous Battle of Yangzhou, it was not at full strength.

"The town of Huguang has four divisions under its jurisdiction, totaling more than 70,000 men."

The situation was similar in Huguang Town, where the Battle of Yangzhou resulted in significant casualties.

The Huguang Garrison was organized according to the Hanzhong Garrison, with each battalion consisting of 5,000 men.

The full quota should be 80,000, but currently there is a shortage of 8,000.

"There are currently three divisions of troops in the Huguang Garrison of Xuzhou. General Zhou Yumao is leading his troops to Xuzhou and is expected to arrive in about ten days."

During the Battle of Yangzhou, Chen Wang did not allow Zhou Yumao to lead troops into battle, but instead used a peasant uprising to advance into Jiangxi.

As the battle of Yangzhou unfolded and the situation gradually became clearer, Chen Wang ordered Zhou Yumao to withdraw from Jiangxi and lead his troops north.

After the Wanmin Army was annihilated, the entire Southern Kingdom temporarily returned to peace.

After the Wanmin Army was annihilated, the entire Southern Kingdom temporarily returned to peace.

"The Seven Divisions of Pingnan Garrison, totaling 84,000 troops, are under the command of General Chen Gong and have now entered Nanjing."

"The combined forces of the five garrisons now number approximately 340,000. Including the troops of the six Pacification Commissions, the Jingnan Garrison has 400,000 troops available for use!" (End of Chapter)