The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

The Battle of Jining.

Huang Taiji's sudden death in battle caused the Plain Yellow Banner to collapse.

Grand Minister Ebilun, Xihan, Buyan, Tazhan, and other high-ranking Qing officials all perished in the chaotic fighting, either fighting to the death or being killed by stray guns; none survived.

Baiyintu, the chieftain of the Plain Yellow Banner, carrying the body of Huang Taiji, rallied the remaining armored cavalry of the Imperial Guard in an attempt to fight his way out.

This last elite force fought desperately, breaking through several layers of encirclement at one point, but was ultimately surrounded by the Henan garrison troops who reacted in time.

Baiyintu was hit by three gunshots and suffered five wounds. He fought to the death, along with all the armored cavalrymen who were escorting him.

Even at the time of his death, Baiyintu covered Huang Taiji with his body, trying to preserve Huang Taiji's body as intact as possible.

Hauge led his entourage on a northward escape, crossing the Fu River to the north, where they encountered a Mongol cavalry force from the southern Gobi Desert, where they were killed by a hail of arrows.

Seeing that all was lost, Jirhalang was disheartened and committed suicide.

They fled north with Jirgalang's body, but were intercepted by the Southern Mongols and all perished.

In the Battle of Jining, the Qing army, with 140,000 troops and the main force of the Manchu and Mongol Eight Banners, suffered a crushing defeat south of the Fu River.

Of the sixteen Manchu and Mongol Eight Banners Gushan Ejen, ten were killed and four were captured in the chaos of battle.

Among them, three were from the Mongol Eight Banners and one was from the Manchu Eight Banners.

Except for the two white flags that managed to escape, the remaining soldiers of the other six flags were unable to escape.

Shang Kexi, one of the three Qing generals who submitted to the Qing, was ambushed and killed by the Southern Mongols on his escape route, suffering from a hail of arrows.

Geng Zhongming was surrounded by the Jingnan Army and killed by stray gunfire.

When Kong Youde fled, he led his troops to repel the intercepting Mongols of the southern steppe and managed to escape to the south bank of the Fu River. However, he was unable to cross the river and had no choice but to surrender with the Jingnan Army after they had completed their encirclement.

More than 120 officers and soldiers of the rank of Zuo Ling and above were captured.

After most of the Qing army prisoners were disarmed, they were imprisoned in several camps in the eastern suburbs of Jining.

The captured officers and soldiers were taken to the outskirts of the capital and escorted there.

Chen Wang was not surprised by the army's request.

This was because it was a petition initiated by him at his behest, led by the Training Department, and carried out by the propaganda officers of each town within the three armies.

Since the uprising began in Hanzhong, both newly recruited soldiers and reorganized old troops have generally gone through three stages of ideological integration.

Firstly, in reorganized or newly trained units, a commemorative meeting led by a propaganda officer serves as a guide for new recruits, allowing ordinary soldiers to establish an emotional connection.

Similar experiences of hardship can overcome barriers related to geographical origins.
Their shared tragic experiences became the initial bond that united them and laid a crucial foundation for their subsequent reorganization and training.

Then, during the reorganization and training period, they would explain why this was the case, attributing the cause to natural disasters and war.

The reason why natural disasters have such a far-reaching impact and why war has been so persistent is because of the corrupt court and the ever-watchful Qing army.

Individual suffering is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather stems from the turbulent and unjust world.

Finally, it is about making everyone understand what they are fighting for and clarifying the connection between the nation and the individual.

They joined the army not just to have enough to eat, but to end this endless cycle of suffering.

When the swords and spears that every soldier grips are imbued with the meaning of restoring peace, everything changes accordingly.

of course.

All of this was done under the condition of full pay and no worries about the aftermath.

After all, no matter how loudly the slogans are shouted, if they cannot be put into practice, they are ultimately just empty talk.

When new recruits sent letters home with their first quarter's pay, when wounded soldiers returned home and saw the land deeds assigned to them by the government, and when the families of soldiers who died on the battlefield received preferential treatment.

Only then will they truly believe that the promise of a peaceful and prosperous world is not just a pipe dream.

It is precisely because of this that the soldiers are willing to fight to the death for the oath they made by the campfire. This is also the reason why the Jingnan Army is so powerful today, and the fundamental reason why it is different from other old armies of this era.

Reading can enlighten people, which is an important reason why the Jingnan Army carried out literacy classes in the army.

"Since it is what the people desire, then we shall grant their request."

Chen Wang tapped the table lightly, his gaze chilling.

"Three days later, the prisoners will be presented at the Meridian Gate."

"All the prisoners were bound and sent to the palace so that the people could witness the execution."

"The corpse was abandoned on Mang Street, its head spread throughout the world..."

Making an example of someone is always the most effective method.

Chen Wang intended to use this surrender of prisoners, leveraging the momentum of the great victory at Jining, to put pressure on Southern Mongolia once again.

Allowing the people and soldiers of various towns to witness the ceremony was a way to avenge the great hatred of the nation and stir up their feelings of shared hatred against the enemy, thus re-establishing the majesty of the superior dynasty.

At the same time, presenting the prisoners at the Meridian Gate was also intended to thoroughly demonstrate the achievements of the Battle of Jining to the world.

To lay the foundation for the road ahead.

What is the situation in the Northwest?

Chen Wang did not linger on the matter of presenting the prisoners.

Now that the war in the north has been settled and the main force of the Qing army has been eliminated, these things are just political matters.

Chen Wang had not forgotten what happened during the Battle of Jining.

Li Zicheng, who was entrenched in the northwest and was eliminating the remaining resistance forces within his territory, saw that the Qing army was at a disadvantage. Considering the mutual dependence of the two sides, he personally led an army of 150,000 to attack Tongguan.

Upon hearing Chen Wang mention the war in the Northwest, all the military officers in the hall, including Zu Zefu, turned their attention back to Chen Wang.

However, unlike Zu Zefu, whose face was solemn, the other generals all showed eagerness on their faces.

"The Shun army launched a fierce attack on Tongguan. Chen Ming, with the First Division of Henan Garrison under his command, fought a bloody battle for more than a month and defeated the Shun army in seventeen battles."

"You Shiwei left Huaiqing and has entered Tongguan to assist in the defense."

Tongguan was held, but Dai Zhenglin showed no joy, because the casualties in Henan Town were not small.

"In the First Division of Henan Town, two battalion commanders were killed in battle, and sixty-two officers from the rank of centurion down to the rank of banner commander were killed or wounded. The total number of casualties has exceeded five thousand."

Dai Zhenglin took a document from his hand and placed it on Chen Wang's desk.

“Sun Qiyun has led the Fourth Division of Henan Garrison to Tongguan and deployed defenses around it. The Shun army attempted to take a shortcut into Henan, but they were all repelled.”

"The situation in the Northwest is temporarily stable, but the Shun army lacks heavy weapons for offensive operations and remains unable to advance beyond Tongguan Pass."

"The Shun army has been besieging Tongguan for a long time without success. They intend to open a second front in Shanxi and other places. Our scouts discovered the whereabouts of Shun army scouts outside Tianjingguan in the south of Taihang Mountain, Zijingguan in the east, and Juyongguan in the north."

Chen Wang frowned slightly as he looked at the battle report and detailed military intelligence on the table, then turned to look at Zhao Huailiang.

"The intelligence department has not yet received any news that the main force of the Shun army has moved north."

Upon seeing Chen Wang turn his gaze towards him, Zhao Huailiang immediately revealed the intelligence obtained by the Intelligence Division.

"At present, the Shun army has only 20,000 troops in Shanxi, led by Tian Jianxiu, plus 20,000 troops from Datong Town, totaling more than 40,000 men."

"Tamihide?"

When Chen Wang heard Tian Jianxiu's name, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and he chuckled to himself.

"Shanxi..."

"They're ours now." The generals in the hall looked at each other, all filled with doubt.

Chen Wang didn't try to hide anything and explained.

"On April 23, the Intelligence Division delivered a handwritten letter from Jiang Xiang."

"The letter stipulated that when our army pacified the northern country and moved into Shanxi, he would immediately lead his troops to respond."

The expressions on the faces of the generals in the hall had mostly faded, but they were not completely dispelled.

Zhou Yumao hesitated, his expression uncertain.

"Li Zicheng assembled a large army and besieged Datong, forcing Jiang Xiang to surrender. Although Jiang Xiang is still the general of Datong, he has no real power and is under house arrest."

"Currently, the troops in Datong are still under the control of the Shun army. Even if Jiang Xiang is willing to rebel, I'm afraid he will find it difficult to shake the overall situation."

“Tian Jianxiu of Shun Army was known for his strict military discipline and cautious use of troops. That is why Li Zicheng entrusted him with the important Shanxi region of Datong. Could he not have foreseen that Jiang Xiang might rebel?”

Zhou Yumao appeared to ask a question, which was also the question that all the generals in the hall had in common.

“You don’t know much about Jiang Xiang, and your knowledge of Tian Jianxiu is only on paper.”

Chen Wang shook his head; it was indeed normal for Zhou Yumao and the others to have such questions.

“Jiang Xiang comes from a family of generals and has served as the General of Datong for a long time. His influence in Shanxi is deeply rooted. Although he appears to be under house arrest, in reality, the troops under Datong are still under his control.”

"Otherwise, why do you think Li Zicheng didn't kill him?"

Historically, Jiang Xiang was changed twice.

The first time was after Jiang Xiang surrendered to Li Zicheng.

At that time, Li Zicheng was wary of Jiang Xiang. When he left Datong, he left Zhang Tianlin, Ke Tianxiang, Zhang Heilian and others to lead troops to garrison Datong. Although Jiang Xiang was still appointed as the general, he no longer had any real power, just like the situation now.

After the Battle of Shanhai Pass, Li Zicheng was defeated and forced to leave Beijing. Jiang Xiang then turned against Li Zicheng and led his confidants to attack the Datong government office. He killed the two Da Shun army generals, Ke Tianxiang and Zhang Tianlin, and within a few days, he had regained control of the various areas under Datong.

The second time was after Jiang Xiang surrendered to the Qing court. After Jiang Xiang surrendered to the Qing, the Qing court still appointed him as a general, but the military power was in the hands of the Qing general Wu Weihua, and Prince Ying Ajige was in charge.

Ajige had already distinguished himself during Nurhaci's time, possessing rich experience in leading troops and remarkable military strategy. Huang Taiji repeatedly appointed him as a general to lead troops into the south to plunder.

Jiang Xiang was under strict control during this period.

However, due to the Qing army's reckless actions in Datong, Jiang Xiang, having lost face, rebelled again, and his troops followed suit.

Jiang Xiang led his troops into the government office again, and Ajige was even forced to escape by climbing over the wall, barely managing to save his life.

"Tian Jianxiu is indeed prudent, but he has one major flaw."

"He was highly respected in the Shun army and was known for his kindness and generosity, which made him very popular among the soldiers. However, at its core, he was just indecisive and soft-hearted."

When Chen Wang mentioned Tian Jianxiu, he felt only contempt.

After the Battle of Shanhai Pass, Li Zicheng suffered a major defeat and retreated to Xi'an. Li Zicheng ordered Tian Jianxiu to cover the rear and to burn all the grain and other stored supplies and official residences that he could not take with him, so as not to give them to the enemy.

Tian Jianxiu defied orders by citing the "starvation of the Qin people," and only symbolically set fire to two city towers before reporting back. This seemingly benevolent decision allowed the pursuing Qing army to obtain supplies, ultimately leading to an even greater disaster.

Li Zicheng suffered a series of defeats, and shortly after reaching Wuchang, the Qing army tracked him down and surrounded the city. The Shun army was caught off guard and suffered a crushing defeat.

Shortly thereafter, the Qing army defeated the Shun army again, and Tian Jianxiu led his Shun troops to surrender to the Qing.

However, Tian Jianxiu did not gain any advantage. The Qing army looked down on him, and he was immediately ordered to be executed by Dorgon.

A coward like Tian Jianxiu doesn't even have the qualifications to go toe-to-toe with a ruthless hero like Jiang Xiang.

"If I'm not wrong."

Chen Wang glanced at the map unfolded on the table.

"Jiang Xiang won't really wait for our army to advance westward; he'll strike first. News of Datong will arrive in a few days."

“Tian Jianxiu is doomed to die, and his troops will be completely annexed by Jiang Xiang.”

Chen Wang did not believe the letter that Jiang Xiang had previously handed him.

However, I don't believe Jiang Xiang wants to turn things around.

Rather, they didn't believe that Jiang Xiang would actually wait until they marched west before making a move.

Jiang Xiang is a smart man.

The letter was merely meant to express an attitude.

Many things change if delayed.

Jiang Xiang will not wait too long...

The generals in the hall all looked slightly tense, for Chen Wang never spoke without reason.

Although they were still somewhat reluctant to believe it, Chen Wang's confident assertion had convinced them to believe him to a great extent.

Just as Chen Wang finished speaking, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall. All the officers and soldiers inside the hall turned around and frowned as they looked outside.

The footsteps stopped in front of the hall door, and then the guards standing outside the hall spoke up.

"Intelligence Division stationed in Datong, Shanxi, urgent dispatch!"

Chen Wang's gaze sharpened slightly as he looked up at the hall entrance.

"Enter."

At Chen Wang's command, the hall door opened again, and the cold night wind blew into the hall, making people feel quite chilly.

A weary messenger carrying a command flag rolled into the tent under the watchful eyes of two armored soldiers with swords.

Immediately afterwards, the letter sealed in the bamboo tube was poured out and placed on a tray, and then quickly delivered to the table in front of Chen Wang.

The candlelight in the hall flickered unpredictably as the cold wind seeped in through the cracks in the door, casting shifting shadows on the faces of the generals.

The messenger knelt on one knee, the frost on his robes gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

Chen Wang unsealed the military report with wax seal, and the faint sound of the silk unfolding could be clearly heard in the silent hall.

He glanced at the text on the secret report for a short while before putting it down again.

Then Chen Wang gently pushed the tray containing the secret report toward Zhao Huailiang's side and smiled.

"Shanxi..."

"Indeed, it's ours."

Zhao Huailiang picked up the secret report from the tray and then passed it on to the officers and soldiers in the hall.

As the contents of the secret report were seen by the officers and soldiers in the hall, disbelief appeared on their faces.

"On the 28th day of the fourth month of the sixteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, at midnight."

"The Shun army camp outside Datong was attacked, and flames soared into the sky, almost burning the heavens."

"In the city, swords and spears clashed everywhere, and shouts of battle filled the sky."

"April 29th, dawn."

"The Ming flag has been replaced on the walls of Datong City."

"Tian Jianxiu died, and many of the remaining people surrendered."

"The troops from Datong Garrison have marched out to search and kill the remnants of the Shun army!" (End of Chapter)