Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 327: Shang Kexi's End

The Red Army on the northern front paid a huge price and finally won a decisive victory after a hard and bloody battle. In contrast, the Red Army on the southern front fought more smoothly. Although they had to travel a longer distance, their progress was ahead of the northern front.

On the one hand, the enemy's main force was on the northern front. On the other hand, Shang Kexi was more cunning and intended to preserve his strength.

Among the three Shun kings of Dongjiang Town, Kong Youde is the most like a hero and the most reckless; Geng Zhongming is the most cunning, but has the worst qualifications, is short-sighted, and is greedy for small profits; Shang Kexi is the smartest, but is greedy and has no restraint.

Shang Kexi was in charge of the Qing army on the southern front. When he heard that the Qing army had been defeated in Luoding, he immediately withdrew his defense line and prepared to retreat. When the Red Army besieged Zhaoqing, Shang Kexi was like a frightened bird, ignoring the battle situation and running all the way back.

There were already many volunteer armies along the coast of eastern Guangdong, and they took the opportunity to intercept and harass the Qing army. Wang Xing of Wencun, Zhou Yu, the leader of the Tanka people, and Liu Bao, the leader of the tenant soldiers, made the greatest efforts, making the Qing army suffer terribly.

Wang Xing had been active in the coastal areas of Zhaoqing and Guangzhou for more than ten years. Even Dongxun had to give him some respect and acknowledge his rule over Yangchun, Yangjiang, Enping and Xinning. Zhou Yu and Liu Bao were even more prestigious among the Tanka people and tenants. When these two raised their arms and called for action, the Tanka people and tenants responded in droves.

Riots broke out from time to time in various counties and prefectures. The people killed the Qing officials, changed their flags, cut their braids and returned to the right path. Shang Kexi stationed a Zhejiang Green Camp soldier in Dianbai County, a key coastal defense town that controlled the official road along the eastern Guangdong coast. This Zhejiang Green Camp soldier also revolted and almost cut off Shang Kexi's way home.

We will kill you while you are weak. The Red Army in the south pursued them relentlessly, and the First Infantry Regiment took the land route, chasing them all the way. The Nanyang Fleet took the water route, landing behind the Qing army from time to time.

On the 20th, Shang Kexi led his troops to retreat to Gaoming County, Zhaoqing Prefecture. At this time, the Red Army was stepping up its siege of Zhaoqing, and Zhang Cunren was at the end of his rope. Li Qifeng, the governor of Guangdong Province, was short of capable troops and was eager for reinforcements, so he begged Shang Kexi to return to Guangzhou for assistance.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Shang Kexi neither rescued Zhang Cunren nor Li Qifeng, and decided to cross the Xijiang River and retreat quickly towards Meiling. The families of the Pingnan vassal army were all in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, and the vassal army did not want to die in eastern Guangdong.

Xu Erxian, the first general of Pingnan and the general of the left wing, was ordered to seize the Muqiantou Ferry. The Muqiantou Ferry is located east of Sanshui County, connecting the West River and the North River. If the Qing army wanted to flee north to Jiangxi, it would be most convenient to go through the Muqiantou Ferry.

The cities of Zhaoqing and Sanshui were still in the hands of the Qing army. As the Qing navy was too weak, the Red Army had sent its navy to seize the Muqiantou ferry and basically gained control of the river.

On the morning of the 21st, Xu Erxian led a thousand cavalrymen and easily captured the ferry. The Red Army's defenses were very weak, and perhaps all its troops were in Zhaoqing and had no time to block the ferry.

The military situation was urgent, so Xu Erxian didn't think too much and drove the soldiers across the river. They couldn't build a pontoon bridge, so they had to use a ferry to ferry back and forth.

Before they had crossed halfway, three Red Army warships came down the tributary of the Xijiang River and headed straight for the Muqiantou Ferry. Another Red Army cavalry using Dinglu-style carbines, apparently lying in ambush for a long time, launched a surprise attack on the Qing troops who had just crossed the Xijiang River.

Military tactics say to attack when the enemy is halfway across the river. The Qing army was caught off guard, and all the cavalry that crossed the river were annihilated by the Red Army. Xu Erxian was glad that he did not cross the river, and quickly led the remaining Qing army to retreat towards Gaoming.

"Gong Xuan, according to your opinion, what should we do?" Shang Kexi was at a loss and had to ask his adviser Jin Guang for advice.

"Zhaoqing is already in danger, and the strategy will definitely fail. Wu Liuqi led the navy to rescue Huizhou. Without the navy, it is difficult for our army to hold on to Guangzhou. Qingyuan has been lost, and Conghua is in danger. If the feudal army wants to go north to Meiguan, it will face many obstacles. The feudal lord asked me for advice, but I have no other good plan."

Jin Guang is loyal to the Ming Dynasty and has had a lot of contact with the Red Army Intelligence Bureau. Shang Kexi has heard about him and is quite wary of him. But for so many years, all the major plans of the vassal army came from Jin Guang's planning. Shang Kexi really can't do without Jin Guang, and at this critical moment, he needs Jin Guang's advice. "It's okay, you can try to say a few things."

"The best plan is to surrender to the Red Army, such as the Dingnan Army. In the future, the Central Plains will be restored, and the feudal lord will not lose his wealth and honor."

Shang Kexi was silent for a long time before he said, "The families of the vassal soldiers are all in Jiangxi. Even if I want to surrender, the soldiers will not obey."

"Haha," watching the feudal army retreating step by step, Jin Guang felt an inexplicable pleasure and said, "My wife and family are just like floating clouds. In his early years, the feudal lord was the deputy general of Guangludao in the Ming Dynasty and placed his family in Lushun. Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming led the Later Jin army to attack Lushun, and hundreds of the feudal lord's family members all jumped into the water and died. How heroic.

"The lord of the domain was very energetic. He later took on more wives and concubines. In less than 20 years, he had 37 sons and 32 daughters. From now on, even if he starts over again, he will not have to worry about wives, concubines, and children."

Shang Kewei said, "Cen Danchu is quite tolerant. The Dingnan general Lian Guoan surrendered to the Red Army and was able to continue to hold military power. Even if the lord surrenders to the Red Army, as long as he still holds military power, the court will be cautious and will not be able to do anything to our family."

Shang Kewei is Shang Kexi's younger brother. Although the Shang family is not a military family in Liaodong, it is also quite famous. Shang Kexi's father Shang Xueli and his brother Shang Kejin were both famous generals in Dongjiang Town, and both died at the hands of the Eight Banners. If Shang Kejin were still alive, it would not be Shang Kexi's turn.

"Let's not talk about surrendering for now. Please tell me another plan." He was still very reluctant to let Shang Kexi, who was in his fifties, surrender to Cen Danchu, who was in his twenties. His eldest son Shang Zhixin stayed in the capital as a hostage and had already arranged a marriage with the Aixinjueluo clan.

"He fell into a trap and crossed the Pearl River to escape to Guangzhou, where he joined forces with Li Qifeng. Whether to surrender or fight is still up to us."

"What's the next plan?"

"Cross the Pearl River and escape to Fujian."

"This?" Shang Kexi was suspicious, his eyes rolling around, and said, "I think going to Fujian is the best plan, defending Guangzhou is the middle plan, and surrendering to the Red Bandits is the worst plan."

"Haha," Jin Guang laughed, "In this chaotic world, the lord of the feudal lord relies on military power to preserve his wealth. Fujian is thousands of miles away from here, and you have to pass through Huizhou and Chaozhou. Ma Xiong of Huizhou and Hao Shangjiu of Chaozhou are both known as famous generals. The lord of the feudal lord has to flee thousands of miles. Even if he is lucky enough to reach Fujian, how many troops will he still have?
"In the third year of the Yongli reign, the Jingnan and Pingnan feudal lords were found to have hid fugitives. Geng Zhongming committed suicide, and the feudal lords were safe and sound. The Manchus in the capital are still dissatisfied. When the feudal lords arrived in Fujian, they lost their cities and lands, and their troops were scattered. They will definitely be impeached by the court. At that time, the Qing court can put the feudal lords in prison with a document."

"Ah?" Shang Kexi was surprised and realized that Jin Guang was not exaggerating.

Shang Kewei didn't know what was wrong with him. He asked a very stupid question: "What if our army moves to Zhaoqing and we attack the Red Bandits from both inside and outside together with the governor?"

"Instead of heading to Zhaoqing, why not stay in Gaoming and fight a decisive battle with the First Town of the Red Army? General, do you think that the vassal army can defeat the First Town of the Red Bandits? If they can't even defeat the First Town, why go to Zhaoqing to seek death?"

"I understand." Shang Kexi made a decision and said, "Send someone to contact Li Qifeng and ask him to prepare a ferry and build a floating bridge on the Pearl River. I will withdraw my troops to Guangzhou and make plans later."

(End of this chapter)