The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

The seventh day of the fourth month of the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), a bluish-white hue appeared on the eastern horizon, like light ink spreading on rice paper.

A gentle breeze blows, and fine rain falls like silk threads, weaving a hazy veil between heaven and earth.

A thin veil of drizzle enveloped Sunshipu, where torches still flickered on the earthen walls.

The drizzle dampened the mandarin duck-patterned battle jackets of the night watchmen, forming fine water droplets on their armor.

The siege of Jining has lasted for almost two months.

In early March, the Jingnan Army captured the Qing army's fortified camp, driving all the Qing troops in Chengdong, Jining, north of the Fu River.

This small shop, which had been burned down by the Qing army in northeast Jining, has now been transformed into a formidable fortress by the Jingnan Army.

The newly rammed earth wall was three feet higher than before, and the chevaux-de-frise planted at the base of the wall gleamed with a bluish light in the drizzling morning rain.

The outermost layer consists of two deep moats.

The trench was filled with murky rainwater, reflecting the figures of laborers carrying barricades.

Smoke mingled with the smell of incense rose from the ruins of the Guandi Temple in the center of the village.

Several laborers responsible for cooking were pouring white rice into a large pot. The rice porridge in the iron pot was bubbling and steaming, and the aroma of incense wafted among the ruins.

Li Dingguo walked along the muddy road, his steps uneven, as cool raindrops slowly trickled down the edge of his helmet.

The spring rain has been falling intermittently for about seven or eight days.

The ground inside and outside the shop was soaked by the continuous rain and became somewhat soft, making it difficult to walk.

"This awful weather..."

Bai Wenxuan gently wiggled his arm holding the knife. He frowned, looked at the thick mud on his boots, and muttered something under his breath.

Back when I lived in Shaanxi, the thing I looked forward to most was rain.

At that time, the scorching sun baked the loess soil until it cracked, and the farmers knelt on the dry field ridges, praying for rain.

Back then, the rain was a hope for survival.

But now, they are no longer in the fields.
At that time, Shaanxi rarely saw a drop of rain throughout the year.

But for soldiers nowadays, rainy days are not a good thing.

They wore heavy armor, with cotton quilts underneath.

Continuous rain makes the air humid, causing cotton-padded clothes to stick stickily to the body, making one feel uncomfortable all over.

Bai Wenxuan unconsciously shrugged his shoulders, trying to get his soaked back of his shirt away from his skin.

"Do not."

"This isn't just bad weather..."

Li Dingguo raised his head slightly, looking at the drizzling rain in front of him, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"This is the perfect weather."

Li Dingguo slowly climbed the camp wall along the rammed earth horse path, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding ground.

Before me lay a vast, rain-soaked field, the soft soil rippling with tiny bubbles as raindrops pounded against it, almost completely covering the landscape.

"Rain makes the soil soft, which is a great thing for us."

Bai Wenxuan was taken aback at first, but he quickly realized what was happening and couldn't help but laugh.

"This is indeed a good rain."

The muddy ground only caused some physical discomfort for the infantry, making walking slightly more difficult.

For cavalry, however, this was a rather bad thing, as the soft, muddy ground would slow down their movement and hinder the horses' progress.

The heavy hooves of warhorses would sink deep into the mud, greatly reducing their charging speed.

Moreover, such rainy weather would greatly reduce the effectiveness of the Qing army's arrows.

A wet bowstring will become slack and weak, and a damp arrow will lose its accuracy.

The firearms currently used by the Qing army are mostly old-fashioned matchlock guns. In such rainy weather, well-preserved matchlocks can still be used with difficulty.

The old-fashioned matchlock guns of the Qing army were practically useless in the rain. Although the matchlocks could still be used if they were well preserved, the damp powder chambers made firing extremely difficult.

Such rain, however, would not have much of an impact on the firearms of the Jingnan Army.

The muskets used by the Jingnan Army were all Type II Hai Shi guns produced by various military ordnance bureaus, which were flintlock guns equipped with bayonets.

The flintlock musket is ignited by flint, and the drizzle at most reduces the probability of ignition.

The gunpowder chamber of the Hai Shi gun was also specially covered to effectively prevent rainwater from wetting the gunpowder.

As long as the flint sparks, the ignition powder can be ignited smoothly, ensuring the reliability of the shot.

Unless it's pouring rain, flintlock guns can still be used.

However, for so many days, the spring rain has been intermittent, just a light drizzle, and has not shown any sign of turning into a heavy downpour.

With the muddy ground and ineffective long-range firepower, the Jingnan Army's flintlock musket formation gained an absolute advantage in the rain.

Infantry could advance steadily, while the Qing army's cavalry charges were greatly reduced in effectiveness as their horses got stuck in the mud, making it difficult to take advantage of the cavalry's numerical superiority.

This rain has become a godsend for the battlefield.

He crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, having witnessed too much injustice, too much filth, and too many things.

Gods and Buddhas, destiny.

all of these.

He didn't believe it at all.

but now.

He believed it.

Destiny truly exists in this world.

That vague and elusive destiny.

Undoubtedly at this moment.

They are being blessed!

Li Dingguo looked up, fine rain streaking across his resolute face.

Above the sky, thin clouds churned, as if an invisible hand was manipulating the battle.

A rapid sound of horses' hooves came from the northwest, interrupting Li Dingguo's thoughts.

Li Dingguo, unhurried and unhurried, lowered his head slightly and gazed intently.

In the misty rain, a fast horse gallops across the puddled grass, the mud splashed up by its hooves like ink blossoms on rice paper.

The scout on horseback was almost pressed against the horse's mane, his right hand holding aloft a bamboo tube wrapped in oilcloth—the symbol of urgent military reports.

Report!

A hoarse shout pierced through the rain curtain.

The scout had already noticed Li Dingguo standing on the camp wall, looking down.

The warhorse reared up ten paces away, and when the scout dismounted, his leggings were soaked with mud.

The scout knelt in the mud, bowed his head, and held up the bamboo tube in his hands, pointing it toward the direction where Li Dingguo was.

"The Qing army's vanguard, numbering over 20,000, is crossing the river from about 20 li to the northwest!"

Li Dingguo's eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

The once gentle spring breeze suddenly turned fierce.

The howling wind swept across the vast open fields east of Jining City, carrying thousands of banners inside and outside the fortress.

……

East of Jining City.

Inside the main tent of the Jingnan Army in the Martial Arts Hall.

"Huang Taiji, he's finally made a move..."

Chen Wang sat high in the main seat, looking down at the cavalrymen kneeling in the tent. He had already received the message from Li Dingguo.

The continuous rain hindered the Qing army's movements.

Huang Taiji has been in Jining City for nearly ten days.

The rain began when Huang Taiji finished his rest and was preparing to lead his troops south.

Huang Taiji led his troops to the north bank of the Fu River, facing them across the river.

The rain stopped Huang Taiji from proceeding.

Rain has a significant impact on combat operations.

Huang Taiji is waiting.

He wanted to wait for the rain to gradually intensify.

I'm waiting for a heavy rain.

The heavy rain would indeed make it difficult for his cavalry to advance, greatly reducing their combat effectiveness.

However, the heavy rain also greatly reduced the firepower of the Jingnan Army's guns and cannons. The flintlock muskets remained difficult to use in the heavy rain.

Huang Taiji was well aware of this.

So even though time was of the essence, he continued to wait.

just.

Huang Taiji did not live to see the rain intensify.

Instead, the rain gradually subsided.

Instead, they received frequent urgent messages from Shandong.

Instead, they received news of the Guan Ning cavalry launching an attack and harassment.

Instead, they received tragic news of repeated disasters in the heart of Liaodong.

Leave time for him.

It's almost nonexistent.

He couldn't wait any longer.

Such is the situation.

That's the general trend.

"The Qing army came with all its might, numbering 140,000 men."

Huang Taiji had 85,000 men under his command. Even if all the troops that Dorgon could mobilize were combined, Hauge still had to send a portion of his forces there.

Located in the east of Jining City.

Huang Taiji has assembled all available troops.

The force reached a terrifying 140,000 men.

The report from the cavalryman did not stir any emotion in anyone.

The Qing army numbered 140,000.

However, their military strength was not bad either.

Huang Taiji stationed his troops in the south of the city for ten days.

Another unit rushed to the battlefield in Jining from the south.

This unit has been established for a long time and is equally experienced in battle and has been tested many times.

They were militiamen from Kaifeng.

It was also the Eighth Division of Henan Town.

In the east of Jining, the total strength of the Jingnan Army had reached 110,000.

This was a field battle on a plain with both sides numbering over 100,000.

If we include all the officers and soldiers of the two armies in Jining, the total number of troops involved in the battle has exceeded 300,000!

This large-scale battle has already surpassed that of Songjin.

With 140,000 men against 100,000, the Qing army indeed held a numerical advantage.

However, they only had an advantage in troop strength.

war.

It's never been a game of words.

"Send orders to Li Dingguo, Ai Nengqi, and Liu Wenxiu."

"Everything was planned in advance, with defenses laid out at every level and attacks launched step by step..."

Chen Wang stood up, handed the riding whip from his right hand to his left, and then stepped forward.

Chen Wang stood at the front of the steps, looking down at the generals and officers of the Jingnan Army in the central command tent.

His expression remained unchanged despite the urgency of the military situation; only his tone grew increasingly cold.

"I want the corpses of Qing soldiers to fill the trenches outside Sun Shipu."

……

The north bank of the Fuhe River.

Huang Taiji stood on the watchtower, scanning the battle outside Sunshipu with his telescope.

The Jingnan Army's cavalry did not intercept their crossing of the river; instead, they retreated along the entire front, all the way to the south of Sunshipu.

Outside Sunshipu, he had already taken in the three trenches dug by the Jingnan Army that stretched for nearly ten miles from north to south.

The scene before him made Huang Taiji feel somewhat dazed.

Those three deep trenches were so similar to the trenches he had ordered to be dug in Songjin.

He used the suddenly constructed trenches to greatly damage the morale of the Ming army, trapping the Ming troops of the Eight Garrisons in Songjin.

Even though the Ming army managed to break through at the last minute, they still suffered heavy losses, which led to his victory in the Battle of Songjin.

And now, three trenches have appeared as well.

However, it was a position set up by the Jingnan Army.

More than 20,000 soldiers of the Jingnan Army defended this ten-mile-long line, relying on more than a dozen fortresses.

The dozen or so oddly shaped fortresses were all equipped with cannons by the Jingnan Army, enough to cover the entire battle line.

The previously invincible shield cart tactic suddenly found itself in a difficult situation under the artillery fire of the Jingnan Army.

In the end, the only option was to forcibly drive the surrounding people who had been plundered to carry earth and stones, and use human lives to fill in the trench bit by bit.

On the south bank of the Fu River, on the Jingnan Army's front line, the sound of gunfire was almost constant.

The Jingnan Army's armored cavalry were constantly patrolling the battlefield, making their plan to send small groups to break through the gap impossible.

It wasn't until their red-coated artillery units arrived on the battlefield that the tide of the war was turned somewhat.

Huang Taiji put down his telescope; his face was somewhat pale.

The long journey made him feel physically unwell, and the difficult situation made him feel a bit short of breath and tightness in his chest.

By this time, the troops that had crossed the river numbered nearly 70,000, which was more than half of his total forces.

The Jingnan Army, which was defending the Sunshipu line, consisted of only two divisions, but the situation remained tense.

Huang Taiji's mind was in turmoil, and his face grew increasingly gloomy as a result.

The situation was not optimistic; the Jingnan army was stronger and more resilient than he had imagined.

Husband fights with courage.

Do it all at once, second time tired, third time exhausted.

Huang Taiji clearly saw Chen Wang's arrangements.

Chen Wang intended to use the Fu River and these outposts to wear down the morale of his troops.

When they finally broke through the outermost line of defense after exhausting their efforts and shedding their blood.

They were greeted by...

They will be the main force of the Jingnan Army, ready for battle on the plains.

But what good is seeing through everything?

Time flies, and years pass by without fail.

He no longer has a choice.

Huang Taiji tilted his head slightly, looked at a middle-aged civil official standing to the side, then composed himself and spoke.

"Mr. Hong."

Upon hearing Huang Taiji's voice, the middle-aged civil official instinctively bowed and replied.

"His Majesty."

If any Ming army officers were here, they would surely recognize this person.

The civil official standing next to Huang Taiji was none other than Hong Chengchou, who was captured by the Qing army in the chaos after the Ming army suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Songjin!

The entire Ming court now believes that Hong Chengchou has already sacrificed himself for his country and died in Songjin.

Emperor Chongzhen even issued an edict praising Hong Chengchou's unwavering integrity and instructed that he be quickly honored with a commendation to comfort his loyalty in death.

The crushing defeat at Songjin caused Emperor Chongzhen to weep bitterly and even order the establishment of an altar in front of Chaotian Palace, preparing to personally go there to offer sacrifices.

Nine altars were bestowed upon Hong Chengchou for sacrificial rites, a shrine was established for him, and a posthumous title was determined.

Emperor Chongzhen even wept in front of the pavilion, saying, "I could not save Chengchou."

just.

Hong Chengchou ultimately failed to live up to Emperor Chongzhen's expectations.

He also failed the Ming court's favor, failed his parents' upbringing, and failed the sage books he had studied since childhood.

For a thousand years, bamboo and silk have recorded loyalty and righteousness; how could a single word have shown submission? (End of Chapter)